Thread by @DBDesRoches

Thread (1 of 9) Lots of angst over the #UAE threats to cancel #F35 purchase. Most miss the point b/c most don't know how US #weapons sales work (or not). @GulfStatesInst @GulfIntlForum @CENTCOM @CH_MENAP @RUSI_org @modgovae @IISS_org @thegulfblog @Dr_Ulrichsen @Cinzia_Bianco

(2 of 9) First, #USA sells weapons with conditions: so many conditions that they are more accurately described as "rentals" than sales. A purchaser has to agree to how these weapons are used, stored, disposed of when done. In most instances, this is to ensure wpns don't go...

(3 of 9) from buyer to bad guys (e.g., to a 3rd party); in some instances (e.g., night vision, crypto) it's to safeguard tech that the #USA relies on.
F-35 falls into the latter category: because it is "stealth" there are extreme restrictions on how it can be used..

(4 of 9) and one of those conditions is that countries which might want to acquire info on stealth (#china, #russia) by gathering radar data, etc on flights can't operate in the purchasing country. This is the root of the #turkey #CAATSA F-35 cancellation. The US views stealth.

(5 of 9) as so critical to this capability that it is willing to cancel a sale even to a @NATO ally if there is fear of compromise of stealth. #UAE regards this as onerous and it is. But no one is being forced to buy the aircraft: this is driven by tech assessments, not policy.

(6 of 9) These sort of things are difficult to be waived because the restrictions reflect the consensus of the US weapons users as to what tech is in danger of compromise and what measures are needed to safeguard it.

(7 of 9) So why was the #UAE offered #F35 w/out understanding the conditions that come with it? My guess is the #abrahamaccords were negotiated in such secrecy that the folks in USG doing it were unaware of the process to safeguard "crown jewels" tech in weapons sales...

(8 of 9) Have no proof of this, but note that the original #abrahamaccords press release included an #electronicwarfare sale along w/ #F35 & #reaper. That dropped out... EW is VERY sensitive and probably hit reality before F35. Some things are just hard to do: this is one...

(9 of 9) Buyers always want more capability than USG is willing to sell; they always resent end use conditions. Conditions are pretty big for #stealth. Threats to canx sale are normal tactics, but shouldn't be taken as a shift in alignment. That is all.