SAN DIEGO -- Fifteen proposed foreign military sales (FMS) have been announced by the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA), with all but two of them being made to countries in the Middle East.

The slew of FMS -- worth about $11.5 billion altogether if none are blocked by Congress -- mark the first foreign sale of Terminal High Altitude Air Defense (THAAD) fire units and follow the Bush administration's plan to boost allied military capability in the region.

The United Arab Emirates will be the biggest beneficiary, with orders placed for THAAD, Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) missile systems, Surface Launched Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles (SL-AMRAAM), Avenger and Vehicle Mounted Stinger Launch Platform (VMSLP) fire units. The UAE and Egypt also will receive UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters, while Saudi Arabia will receive AH-64D Apache helicopters.

UAE’s Black Hawk order could reach as high as $774 million for 14 aircraft and associated equipment and logistics support. The Saudis’ 12 Apache Longbows, to be used for national security and border protection, would cost $598 million.

UAE missiles

The UAE’s 288 AIM-120C-7 SL-AMRAAMs will cost $445 million if all the options are exercised. The missiles will "strengthen the effectiveness and interoperability of a potential coalition partner, reduce the dependence on U.S. forces in the region and enhance any coalition operations," according to the Sept. 9 DSCA announcement.

The UAE will buy three THAAD fire units equipped with 147 THAAD missiles for $6.95 billion, four PAC-3 missiles and associated equipment for $121 million and $737 million worth of Avenger fire units including VMSLP units. Within the Avenger/VMSLP bundle, "buy-to-fly" Stinger anti-aircraft missiles will be used by the U.S. government for acceptance testing with unexpended missiles delivered to the UAE.

Israel is asking to upgrade its Patriot fire units, which would require three modification kits costing up to $164 million. A request has also been made for 1,000 GBU-39 Small Diameter Bombs, for $77 million, and 6,900 TOW 2A anti-armor guided missiles for $319 million.

Egypt has requested four UH-60M Black Hawks, an order that could reach $176 million, for its recently established military Search and Rescue Operations Center. The country also asked for $69 million worth of 120MM High Explosive with Tracer (HE-T) cartridges for its M1A1 tank fleet. It further would like to upgrade its aging inventory of TOW-2A anti-armor guided missiles, and has requested 6,900 of them, to the tune of $319 million if all options are exercised.

The Jordanians would like to extend their Jordan Border Security Program, which could cost up to $390 million. And Kuwait wants to purchase 120 AIM-120C-7 AMRAAMs for $178 million.

The only two countries in the Sept. 9 FMS notices that are outside the Middle East region are Finland, which has asked for $406 million for a third phase of the F-18 midlife upgrade program, and India, which has requested 20 Harpoon Block II missiles for $170 million.