Trump lands in Saudi Arabia - and the U.S. approves massive helicopter sale to UAE
In a major development timed with former President Donald Trump’s high-profile return to the Middle East, the U.S. State Department has approved a potential Foreign Military Sale (FMS) to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) involving six CH-47F Chinook helicopters, valued at approximately $1.32 billion.
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The announcement, issued by the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA), comes as Trump begins his regional tour in Saudi Arabia — his first international trip since leaving office. The deal signals a strengthening of U.S.-UAE military ties and potentially paves the way for further defense cooperation in the region.
A Strategic Rotorcraft Deal
The proposed sale includes six Boeing-manufactured Chinooks equipped with advanced features such as air-to-air refueling capability, twelve T-55-GA-714A engines (plus four spares), GPS systems, missile warning sensors, laser detection equipment, radar systems, and machine guns.
“This proposed sale will enhance the United Arab Emirates’ ability to meet current and future threats by extending its range of flight operations,” the U.S. State Department said. “The UAE will use these assets in search and rescue, disaster relief, humanitarian support, and counterterrorism operations.”
To support the integration and operation of the helicopters, the U.S. plans to send 10 representatives — including two government officials and eight contractors — to the UAE for a five-year period. However, no technology transfer was included in the deal, despite the UAE and Saudi Arabia previously pushing for local production capabilities in future defense procurements.
Filling the Caracal Gap
This potential Chinook purchase follows the UAE’s cancellation of a planned €800 million ($888 million) deal for Caracal helicopters from Airbus in May 2023. At the time, Emirati officials cited high lifecycle costs, limited mission adaptability, and overly complex technical requirements as reasons for terminating the Airbus agreement.
“The Caracal program simply became too difficult to justify,” an official from the UAE’s Tawazun Council told Breaking Defense in an exclusive interview last year. The void left by the Caracal deal had remained unfilled — until now.
Not a Done Deal Yet
While the Chinook sale is a significant step forward in U.S.-UAE defense relations, it is not yet finalized. The announcement marks the beginning of a 30-day congressional review period during which U.S. lawmakers can object to or block the transaction. Historically, quantities, equipment configurations, and total costs have also shifted during the negotiation process.
In a related move, the State Department has also greenlit a separate $130 million FMS package to sustain the UAE’s fleet of F-16 fighter jets. The country currently operates 80 F-16E/F Block 60 aircraft — an advanced variant known as the “Desert Falcon.”
Trump’s Return to the Gulf
The timing of the announcements appears closely linked to Trump’s return to the Middle East stage. His trip includes stops in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar, and is widely expected to feature the revival or finalization of multiple defense agreements initiated during his presidency.
Notably, Trump’s administration approved the historic first sale of F-35 fighter jets to an Arab nation — the UAE — before the deal was suspended by the Biden administration over concerns tied to Huawei’s 5G network presence in the Emirates.
With this new Chinook deal and the F-16 sustainment package, Trump may be aiming to reassert U.S. influence in the Gulf and reestablish himself as a key facilitator of major defense partnerships in the region.
