UAE to Purchase General Atomics Predators

The United Arab Emirates has signed a $197 million deal to purchase the international version of the General Atomics - Aeronautical Systems International (GA-ASI) Predator unmanned air systems (UAS).

The sale, though involving GA-ASI aircraft, was technically inked with the International Golden Group (IGG), which selected the Predator on behalf of the UAE armed forces.

"GA-ASI is honored that its Predator EP system has earned IGG selection to provide affordable, reliable and cost-effective multi-mission capabilities to the UAE Armed Forces for years to come," says the company.

The UAE's purchase marks the first sale of the Predator XP, the export version of the venerable Predator A, called MQ-1 in US service. Several other nations operate the Predator B, or MQ-9 as designated by the US, a much larger and more sophisticated version of the UAS. Those nations are all members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), which receives special treatment under American anti-arms trafficking rules.

Two NATO allies, the United Kingdom and Italy, currently operate the MQ-9, and at least two others have shown strong interest in a procurement.

"This is the first sale of Predator XP, the first time a non-NATO country is able to buy our technology," says GA-ASI. The aircraft, unlike the US version, are not capable of carrying weapons.

[via]