PaulLewis &Graham Warwick /WashingtonDC

Meanwhile, Malaysia Super Hornets deal set to go through

The US Defence Security Co-operation Agency (DSCA) has notified the US Congress of the possible sale of surplus Northrop Grumman E-2C airborne early warning (AEW) aircraft to the United Arab Emirates. At the same time, notice has been given of the much-anticipated proposed purchase of 18 Boeing F/A-18F Super Hornets by Malaysia.

The UAE is considering buying five used E-2Cs for refurbishment and modernisation to the Hawkeye 2000 standard, with Lockheed Martin's APS-145 radar, an OE-335/A antenna and Rolls-Royce T56-425 turboprops. The aircraft are believed to be older Group 0 E-2Cs that are being gradually withdrawn from service as the US Navy standardises on Group 2 and Hawkeye 2000 aircraft.

The USN has around 30 surplus Group 0 aircraft, estimated to have at least 15 years of service life left if operated from land rather than an aircraft carrier. Northrop Grumman has sold older E-2Cs in the past, including an attrition replacement to Egypt, which is upgrading its six aircraft to Hawkeye 2000s.

The UAE has been mulling an AEW aircraft acquisition for years, and at one stage was looking at a combined purchase with other Gulf nations. Boeing has been seeking to interest the UAE, along with Bahrain and Kuwait, in the 737-based AEW aircraft. The proposed E-2C deal is worth $400 million.

DSCA has also notified Congress of the possible sale of 18 two-seat F/A-18Fs to Malaysia, along with 12 BAE Systems ALQ-214 Integrated Defensive Electronic Countermeasures, 18 ALE-47 chaff dispensers and 18 Raytheon ALR-67(V)3 radar warning receivers. The aircraft would be equipped with the Raytheon APG-73 radar, rather than the planned APG-79 active electronically scanned array.

The deal could be worth up to $1.5 billion, and would make Malaysia the first Super Hornet export customer. The nation operates eight F/A-18Ds delivered in 1997; there has been speculation these could be traded in as part of a new purchase.

Other DSCA notifications include the possible sale to Egypt of two VIP-configured Sikorsky UH-60L Black Hawk helicopters worth $47 million, along with two Gulfstream IV-SP business jets worth $102 million. Both will be used to transport Egypt's National Command Authority.

Source: Flight International