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The United Arab Emirates is best known for its city of Dubai, an ultra-modern port city that has become the trading and commercial hub of the Middle East. As a May 2005 article in National Defense Magazine notes, however, it has also acquired a reputation for a strong and respected military procurement system.

One of their current initiatives involves the Boeing AH-64 Apache attack helicopters the country acquired in 1991 and 1994. The plan involves remanufacture and modernization of 30 AH-64A aircraft to the current AH-64D Longbow standard. Deliveries to the UAE are scheduled to begin in May 2008 and continue through November 2009, with support activities continuing through November 2010. The overall program includes integration and aircraft integration laboratory support at Boeing, protection and even stealth enhancements, missiles, training devices, initial spares, depot spares, support activities and integrated logistics support.

Some recent contracts/ announcements illustrate the efforts underway, and DID also presents a timeline that extends back to the original 2002 DSCA announcement…

UAE’s AH-64 Upgrades: Related Contracts & Events

After: AH-64D
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Note that “Longbow Ltd.” is a 50/50 joint venture between Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman, and that some items come in quantities over 30 because spares are very useful.

Aug 4/09: The USE submits a US DSCA request to buy 362 AGM-114N3 thermobaric Hellfire Missiles, plus various aircraft communications and ECM defensive systems. The total value of the contracts could be as high as $526 million, if all contracts are signed. Read “UAE Requests Hellfires, and More” for full details.

April 6/09: A $128.1 million firm fixed price, cost plus fixed fee contract. The contract includes 2 Longbow Crew Trainers for the UAE. The bulk of the funds will remanufacture 8 US Army AH-64As into AH-64D Extended Block II+ model, and enhance the USA’s own trainers.

Work is to be performed in Mesa, AZ (59%) and St. Louis, MO (41%) with an estimated completion date of Dec 31/13. One bid was solicited from the helicopters’ manufacturer, with one bid received (W58RGZ-06-C-0093).

Oct 4/07: The UAE issues an official request for 900 Hellfire II Longbow missiles, and 300 AGM-114M warheads designed for use against small ships and/or fortified urban targets. The total value, if all options are exercised, could be as high as $428 million. See full DID coverage.

Jan 18/07: Boeing announces a $1.149 billion extended Block II contract for the remanufacture of 96 AH-64D Apache Longbow helicopters for the U.S. Army, plus 30 AH-64Ds for the United Arab Emirates. See Boeing release.

August 7/06: Lockheed Martin announces that the US Army awarded Lockheed Martin a $16 million contract to provide 37 AN/APR-48A Radar Frequency Interferometer (RFI) systems for the AH-64D Apache Longbow Helicopter: 7 for the USA and 30 for the UAE. The RFI systems provide situational awareness and threat warning aboard Apache Longbow helicopters by passively detecting, accurately identifying and precisely locating radar emitters. The RFI system performs target acquisition and cueing of Radar Frequency threat systems, such as surface-to-air missile sites or radar-guided anti-aircraft artillery.

As of this release, Lockheed Martin says it has delivered more than 330 AN/APR-48A systems to the U.S. Army and international military customers.

June 7/06: The U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Command (AMCOM) awards a $125.8 million contract to Longbow Ltd. for production and support of 37 Longbow Fire Control Radars (FCR) – 7 for the USA, and 30 for the UAE. Deliveries will begin in October 2008 and conclude in April 2009. DID covered this, and subsequently updated the article in August.

Longbow Ltd. President Rick Russell notes in an August 8, 2006 release that this contract “brings the number of radar systems ordered to almost 400,” and the release adds the details re: the UAE/USA split. The U.S. Government apparently has an option to procure as many as 6 additional radars by July 1, 2006, and another option for additional procurement through December 31, 2006 (which therefore extends into FY 2007 after October 1, 2006).

July 17/02: The DSCA announces the United Arab Emirates’ intent [PDF format] to pursue the upgrade program, and notes that the total value could be as high as $1.5 Billion if all options are exercised. This proposed sale also includes:

• 32 AN/APG-78 AH-64D Longbow Fire Control Radar
• 32 APR-48A Radar Frequency Interferometer
• 32 T700-GE-701C engines
• 32 Modernized Target Acquisition Designation Sight/Pilot Night Vision Sensors (TADS/PNVS; note that M-TADS/PVNS is not the same as the new Arrowhead systems)
• 240 AGM-114L3 Hellfire II laser guided missiles
• 49 AGM-114M3 Hellfire II blast fragmentation missiles, originally designed for use against ships
• 90 M299 Hellfire missile launchers
• 33 AN/ALQ-211 Suite of Integrated Radio Frequency Countermeasures/Suite of Integrated Infrared Countermeasures – actually an ITT product.
• HAVE GLASS II capabilities. This is an indium-tin-oxide coating that improves radar stealth, and especially helps minimize cockpit reflections;
• Plus spare and repair parts; support equipment; publications and technical documentation; personnel training and training equipment; U.S. Government and contractor technical support and other related elements of logistics support.

DID has added responsibility assignments to the official list of major contractors, which consists of:

• The Boeing Company of Mesa, AZ (AH-64 manufacturer and prime contractor)
• Lockheed Martin Electronics and Missiles of Orlando, FL (TADS/PVNS or Arrowhead, Hellfire missiles)
• Lockheed Martin Systems Integration of Oswego, New York (RFI)
• General Electric of Lynn, MA (Engines)
• Longbow International of Orlando, FL (Radar)

There are no offset agreements proposed in connection with this potential sale. Implementation of this proposed sale will require the assignment of 10 U.S. Government representatives for two-week intervals, twice annually, to participate in training, program management and technical reviews. There will be up to 40 contractor representatives in-country for two years to assist in the delivery of the helicopters, and a U.S. Government representative will be in the UAE field office for two years.