UAE moves closer to buying MQ-9B SeaGuardian drones

Representatives of the US company General Atomics Aeronautical Systems visited the IDEX arms show in Abu Dhabi. President David Alexander confirmed that the United Arab Emirates is one step closer to buying drones.

Here's What We Know

General Atomics has a long-standing partnership with the UAE government and the GCC Air Force, the president said. The cooperation mainly concerns the MQ-1 Predator program, but the UAE has shown interest in other unmanned platforms as well. In particular, the MQ-9B SeaGuardian.

General Atomics is to be licensed to export the drones. Two years ago, the UAE withdrew its UAV purchase request after the Joe Biden administration froze a deal approved by Donald Trump.

The agreement involved the sale of weapons, F-35 Lightning II fighters and MQ-9B SeaGuardian drones. The UAE did not want to wait and decided to prioritise drones from China, Turkey and other countries. Negotiations are now ongoing. This was reported by C. Mark Brinkley, a spokesman for General Atomics.

Source: Defence News