United Arab Emirates examines importing F-16 engines

The United Arab Emirates is currently examining choosing a company to import engines for 80 F-16 war planes under a plan to purchase the US jet fighters.

The plan has been unaffected by the severe reduction in the international prices of petroleum.

An Emirate military source said that the plan is still going on, and there is no change due to the reduction in the national income, adding that a number of the region's countries could slow or postpone their plans to buy weapons as a way of confronting the increasing shortage in their budgets after reductions in petroleum prices to their lowest level in ten years.

The UAE announced that it is planning to buy 80 planes long term of the Lockheed Martin Corporation in a deal valued at $6 - $8 billion, but it has not yet signed the final contracts.

A high-ranking UAE officer said that the cost of the engine usually accounts for 20 to 25% of the total deal, and the UAE is currently discussing offers from General Electric and others.