UAE says French fighter jets no substitute for US F-35
The head of the UAE's air force sought to clarify comments by France's President Emmanuel Macron last week.
The defense ministry of the United Arab Emirates is expressing continued interest in US-made F-35 stealth fighter jets, despite a recent purchase of French warplanes.
Commander of the UAE’s air force and air defense told state news outlet over the weekend that last week’s deal for 80 French-made Rafale fighter jets was no substitute for the country’s intent to buy Lockheed-Martin’s F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.
Abu Dhabi Crown Price Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan inked a massive $19 billion deal for Dassault Rafale fighter jets and Caracal transport helicopters with French President Emmanuel Macron on Friday. The sale was Paris’ largest overseas arms deal to date.
“This deal is not considered as an alternative for the forthcoming F-35 deal,” Maj. Gen. Ibrahim Nasser Al Alawi told Emirates News Agency late on Saturday.
