U.A.E. 20. UNITED ARAB EMIRATES (UAE) Contents Major Changes...............................................................................................1 General Data ..................................................................................................2 Arms Trade....................................................................................................4 Strategic Assets ..............................................................................................7 Armed Forces.................................................................................................8 Ground Forces................................................................................................9 Air Force......................................................................................................12 Air Defense Forces .......................................................................................17 Navy.............................................................................................................19 Major Changes • Since the arrival of the last batch of F-16E/F there have been no deliveries of major weapon systems. • The UAE did, however, launch some major acquisition programs for the coming years. These include orders for new C-130J and C-17 transport aircraft, A-330 aerial refueling aircraft, airborne command and control aircraft, utility and light attack helicopters and 48 M-346 training aircraft. • the UAE air defense forces is acquiring the latest version of Patriot SAMs, including the anti ballistic PAC-3 missiles, the Avenger and SL-AMRAAM for point defense – and above all – 3 units of the THAAD anti ballistic missile, of which the UAE will be the first non US customer. • The Emiri Army will procure ATACMS ballistic missiles, as a part of a deal that also includes MLRS and GMLRS rockets. The navy is awaiting its first Baynunah corvettes, the first of which is expected to enter service in 2009. These corvettes will be equipped with Excocet MM-40 block III anti ship missiles as well as RIM- 7 and SeaSparrow anti aircraft and anti missile systems. Upgraded on 12/08/2009 1 U.A.E. General Data Official Name of the State : United Arab Emirates . Head of State : Shaykh Khalifa ibn Zayid al-Nuhayan, Emir of Abu Dhabi Prime Minister : Shaykh Mohammed ibn Rashid al-Maktum, Emir of Dubai Minister of Defense : Shaykh Muhammed ibn Rashid al-Maktum Chief of General Staff : HRH Lieutenant General Hamad Muhammad Thani al- Rumaithi Commander of the Ground Forces: Major General Mohammed Subaith al-Kaabi Commander of the Air Force and Air Defense Forces : Major General Mohammed bin Sweidan Saeed al-Qamzi Commander of the Navy : Rear Admiral Ahmed al-Sabab al-Tenaiji Area :. 82,900 sq. km. (estimate) Population : 5,500,000 (estimate) Note : The UAE consists of seven principalities: Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Ras al-Khaima, Sharja, Umm al-Qaiwain, Fujaira, and Ajman Demography Ethnic and national groups • South Asians 2,750,000 50% • Other Arabs and Iranians 1,265,000 23% • Emiri 1,045,000 19% • Westerners and East Asians 440,000 8% Religious groups • Sunni Muslims 4,400,000 80% • Shi’ite Muslims 880,000 16% • Others 220,000 4% Upgraded on 12/08/2009 2 U.A.E. Economic Data 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 • GDP (current prices) $ bn 105.2 132.2 170.1 198.7 225.4 • GDP per capita $ • Real GDP growth % 9.7 8.2 9.4 7.5 8.4 • Consumer price index % 7.0 12.5 13.5 14.0 16.0 • External debt $ bn 30.6 34.9 46.4 61.7 73.3 Balance of payments • Exports fob $ bn 90.9 117.3 145.6 178.9 220.5 • Imports cif $ bn -63.4 -74.5 -88.0 -116.6 -143.4 • Current account balance $ bn 12.3 27.7 41.7 34.5 44.4 (including services and income) Government expenditure • Total expenditure $ bn 26.2 28.5 34.9 40.0 NA • Defense expenditure $ bn 2.43 2.5 NA NA NA • Real change in defense % -3.6 2.9 NA NA NA expenditure • Defense expenditure/GDP % 2.3 1.9 NA NA NA Population m 4.3 4.6 4.9 5.2 5.5 Official exchange rate Dh:1$ 3.67 3.67 3.67 3.67 3.67 Sources : EIU Quarterly Report, EIU Country Profile, IMF International Financial Statistical Yearbook, SIPRI Yearbook Foreign Military Cooperation Type Details • Foreign forces France (500), Italy (100), US (Some 110 soldiers), • Forces deployed Lebanon (de-mining) abroad • Joint maneuvers Egypt (2001), France (2007), GCC countries (2002), Jordan (2001), Turkey (2002), UK (2007), US (2007) • Security agreement France (2007), Germany, India (2003), NATO (2006), Pakistan (2006), Yemen (2005) Upgraded on 12/08/2009 3 U.A.E. Arms Trade Arms Procurement and Security Assistance Received Country Type Details Austria • Cooperation in S-100 al-Saber UAVs (2006) arms production Belgium • Cooperation in Iguana APCs (2006), upgrading of OF-40 arms production MBTs (2006) Denmark • Arms transfers Naval surveillance radar (2005) Finland • Arms transfers AMV IFVs (2008) France • Arms transfers Mirage 2000-9 combat aircraft (2004), Leclerc tanks (2006), MM40 Exocet SSMs (2008), VBL LAVs (2004), A244 torpedoes (2005), Black Shaheen ALCM (2005), Mica AAMs (2005) , Milan ATGMs (2004), A330 MRTT tanker (2008), Damocles targeting pods (2007), AS-365 Duophin helicopter (2007) • Cooperation in Baynunah MFPBs (2005) arms production Germany • Arms transfers Naval systems (2004), Fuchs 2 NBC vehicles (2007), upgrading of communication systems (2005), Kortenaer frigates (2006), Type 332 mine-hunters (2006), Cobra artillery radar (2009) • Military training Trainees in Germany (2005), foreign advisers, instructors (2005) India • Military training Trainees in India (2007) Italy • Arms transfers Machine-gun turrets (2004), FCS for corvettes (2004), upgrading of helicopters (2005), AW139 helicopters (2007), M- 346 trainer aircraft (2009) Jordan • Cooperation in Tiger RV (2007) arms production Romania • Arms transfers Upgrading of IAR-330 Puma helicopters (2006) Russia • Arms transfers AN-124 aircraft (2004), Pantsir-S1 AD systems (2008) , upgrading of BMP-3 IFVs (2007), Kornet-E ATGMs (2007), RGP-29 (2007) Singapore • Arms transfers 120mm SRAMS mortars (2008) South • Arms transfers EW systems for helicopters (2005), naval Africa warning systems (2004), RG-31 APCs (2007) , RG-12 APCs (2008) Upgraded on 12/08/2009 4 U.A.E. Country Type Details South Korea • Arms transfers Tactical UAVs (2005), 120mm MMS mortars (2007) Spain • Arms transfers C-295 maritime patrol aircraft (2005- suspended) Sweden • Arms transfers Naval surveillance radar (2004) • Cooperation in APID-55 UAVs (2005) arms production Switzerland • Arms transfers Minewolf mine-clearing vehicles (2008) Turkey • Arms transfers TR-122 MRLs (2007), ACV-S APCs (2007), TR-300 MRLs (2009) Ukraine • Arms transfers An-32 aircraft (2007) US • Arms transfers RIM-7 Sea Sparrow naval SAMs (2008), Thuraya satellites (2006), upgrading AH- 64D helicopters (2007), Javelin ATGMs (2008), TAS aerostat system (2005), S-70 Blackhawk helicopters (2008), HIMARS MRLs (2006), ATACAM missiles (2006), RAM SAMs (2007), AGM-114L3/N Hellfire missiles (2008), E-2C AEW aircraft (2007), Patriot PAC-3 SAMs (2008), AMRAAM AAMs (2009), JDAM (2007), Paveway-2/3 laser-guided bombs (2007), CBU-105 SFW (2007), THAAD ABM (2008), Avenger SAMs (2008), SL- AMRAAM SAMs (2008), C-130J transport aircraft (2009), C-17 transport aircraft (2009) Arms Sales and Security Assistance Extended Country Type Details Bahrain • Arms transfers Upgrading of patrol boats (2007), 16m LCT (2009), 42m LCT (2009) Iraq • Military training Training of Iraqi troops (2005) • Arms transfers Comp Air 7SL aircraft (2004), Panhard M3 APC's (2004), Bell 206 helicopters (2004) Jordan • Arms transfers Upgrading of Scorpion light tanks (2003) Lebanon • Arms transfers SA-342 Gazelle helicopters (2007), patrol boats (2007), Milan ATGMs (2007) Libya • Arms transfers Nimr RVs (2009) Oman • Arms transfer Fast assault boats (2004), landing craft (2005) Taiwan • Arms transfers Mini-submarines (2006) UK • Facilities Logistical facilities Upgraded on 12/08/2009 5 U.A.E. Country Type Details US • Facilities Storage facilities for naval equipment at Jebel Ali and Fujaira, use of al-Dhafra AFB and pre-positioning of equipment for an armored brigade Yemen • Arms transfers Patrol boats (2004) Defense Production M P A Land force equipment • Hunter reconnaissance vehicle • al-Dhabi, AMV and Iguana armored vehicles • 120mm Agrab SP mortar system • 300mm MRLs • Conversion of OF-40 and Scorpion light-tanks to IFVs Air force equipment • Falco, GRD 100/200, MHD target drones • Nibbio mini-UAV • al-Shabah , S-100 al-Sabr, APID-55 , Yabhon-M UAVs • SkyCat Naval equipment • LEWA patrol boats • Upgrading of TNC-45 Patrol Boats • Swimmer delivery vehicles • Al-Saber FPBs • Express offshore transport vessels • Ghannatha Fast Fighting boats • Fast Interception Boats • Baynunah corvettes • Fast supply ships • 24m, 42m and 64m amphibious landing craft Note: M - manufacture (indigenously developed) P - production under license A - assembly Upgraded on 12/08/2009 6 U.A.E. Strategic Assets NBC Capabilities Nuclear capability No known nuclear activity. Signatory to the NPT. Chemical weapons and protective equipment No known CW activities. Personal protective equipment, unit decontamination equipment. Party to the CWC. Biological weapons No known BW activities. Signed but not ratified the BWC. Future procurement Fuchs (Fox) ABC detection vehicle (32) Ballistic Missiles Model Launchers Missiles Since Notes • Scud B 6 1991 Owned by Dubai; unconfirmed Future procurement • MGM-140 100 Using HIMARS ATACMS launchers Space Assets Model Type Notes Satellites • Thuraya-1/2/3