GCC/Region: Fighter jet orders move forward as aerial arms race continues

The US Department of Defense (Pentagon) has confirmed two large orders for fighter jet sales to its Gulf allies, in the latest evidence of the region’s arms race in the sky. The multi-billion dollar sales to Bahrain and Kuwait come alongside progress with Qatar’s Eurofighter Typhoon order and suggestions the UAE may be learning from Israel’s experience with the F-35 jet.The first order to be confirmed was a $1.1bn sale of F-16 V Block 70 aircraft to the Royal Bahraini Air Force.