MENA by the Numbers: Arms Transfers & Trainings Share This /

The first two months of 2014 saw a number of arms agreements and rumored agreements by Middle Eastern countries, which have been rapidly increasing their defense budgets over the past few years. The deals included a sale of American Apache helicopters to Iraq, a rumored agreement between Russia and Egypt, and international interest in Turkey’s UAVs (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles), among others, altogether amounting to a potential $13 billion in transactions. Below are some of main arms sales stories from around the region so far in 2014:

Sales from the United States:

• Right before the New Year, the Pentagon announced the sale of 14 four-pack Patriot missiles and seven launcher modifications worth a total of $263.4 million to Kuwait. Designed to combat ballistic and cruise missile threats, these PAC-3 missiles have previously been sold to Taiwan, Japan and the United Arab Emirates. Analysts interviewed in Defense News placed the sale within the context of the Gulf Cooperation Council’s desire to improve its missile defenses. The sale is slated to be completed and delivered by Lockheed Martin by June 30, 2016.
• U.S. military sales to Iraq have sped up since the occupation of Fallujah and Ramadi by al Qaeda and other militias, with the U.S. promising to deliver “10 ScanEagle surveillance UAVs (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles) in the upcoming weeks, and 48 Raven surveillance UAVs later this year.” In addition, the past two months saw the sales of nearly 1,000 Hellfire missiles (over two separate sales), 24 Apache arrack helicopters and associated support—altogether worth over $6.16 billion—as well as air traffic control and landing systems worth $700 million.
• A sale of six V-22B Osprey aircraft to Israel, rumored since last April, was announced by the Pentagon on January 15. Israel is the only country so far the U.S. has allowed to purchase this aircraft, which will be packaged alongside radar, missile warning systems, radios, night vision goggles, navigation systems and other support equipment.  The sale is part of a long-term weapons package totaling $1.13 billion. 
• Libya has requested to purchase personnel training for 6,000-8,000 troops from the U.S. at the cost of $600 million. The training includes “facilities sustainment and improvements, personnel training and training equipment, 637 M4A4 carbines and small arms ammunition,” in addition to other services conducted over an eight year period. The training will be conducted in Bulgaria.
• The Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) announced two separate sales to the United Arab Emirates in January: the first of blanket order training along with associated training and support, worth $150 million, and the second of equipment support for a previous sale of 30 F-16 Block 61 aircraft. The equipment includes 40 20mm M61A guns, and 40 Embedded GPS Navigational systems, altogether worth $270 million.
• Boeing delivered the first of four airborne early-warning and control (AEW&C) aircrafts to Turkey at the beginning of February. The aircraft is part of a 2003 deal, which cost more than $1.6 billion, and included “delivery of 737-700 airframe, ground radar and control systems,” and associated support equipment. The original delivery was slated for 2008, and Turkey is now demanding penalties for the delays.

Around the world:

• As part of recent attempts to raise its influence in the Middle East, Russia increased its shipments of military supplies to Syria in the first few weeks of January. Reuters sources reported that “dozens of Anatov 124’s (Russian transport planes) have been bringing in armored vehicles, surveillance equipment, radars, electronic warfare systems, spare parts for helicopters, and various weapons.”
• Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) and ROKETSAN Company in Turkey have been manufacturing a number of new UAVs, attack helicopters, missile complexes, and other arms, attracting the attention of both Azerbaijan and Libya. Azerbaijan decided to purchase UMTAS and OMTAS anti-tank missiles, and has been looking into purchasing Anka UAVs. In addition, Azerbaijan and Turkey signed the final documents on a joint missile production venture late January. Meanwhile, Libyan Prime Minister Ali Zeidan announced a possible purchase of T-129 attack helicopters and Hurkus-C turboprop trainer from Turkey after a tour of TAI facilities on January 3. Turkey’s defense exports saw a 10 percent increase to $1.4 billion in 2013, and intend to reach $2 billion by the end of this year.

Rumored/Unconcluded sales:

• A series of meetings between Egypt’s Field Marshall Abdul Fattah al-Sisi and Russia’s President Vladimir Putin took place to discuss an arms deal reputedly worth 2 to 4 billion USD.  Russian Independent reported that the sale could include “24 MiG-29 fighter jets, second generation ‘Kornet’ anti-tank rockets, 3RK ‘Top M1,’ Mi-8 and Mi-7 attack helicopters.”
• Reuters reported on February 24 that Iran aims to sell Iraq arms and ammunition worth $195 million—a deal the U.S. suspects would violate the United Nations embargo on weapons sales by Tehran. Reportedly, the deal was agreed upon in late November, after Iraqi Prime Minister Nour al-Maliki returned from the U.S. unsatisfied with delays in U.S. weapon sales and deliveries. Following pressure from the U.S., Iraq denied that “any contracts for military equipment were signed with Iran.”
• Algeria and China have reportedly been in discussions over the purchase of up to 90 Xianglong (Soar Dragon) UAVs, which were successfully tested last year in southern Algeria.  Additionally, Algeria appears to have acquired around 50 PLZ 45 self-propelled howitzers from China at the end of January.  These negotiations took place as Algeria is increasing its defense budget in an attempt to modernize its army.