UAE to buy 12 L-15 aircrafts from China

DUBIA, Feb. 23 (YPA) – The Ministry of Defense of the United Arab Emirates announced that it intends to contract the Chinese company CATIC for the purchase of 12 L-15 trainer aircraft, with the option of adding 36 aircraft of the same model in the future, (WAM) Emirates News Agency reported on Wednesday.

Tariq Abdul Rahim Al Hosani, CEO of the Tawazun Economic Council, said that this agreement is in line with the policy of diversification of armament sources and the continuous modernization of formations and units of the Air Force and the Armed Forces in general.

We have reached the final stages of negotiations with the Chinese side and a final agreement will be concluded soon, Al- Hosani said, stressing the importance of this deal in order to obtain the UAE the best capabilities that fit its needs and achieve its strategic objectives.

He also expressed his confidence in CATIC, which possesses state-of-the-art technology with global competitive advantages».

The Tawazun Economic Council is currently the body in charge of managing procurement and contracts for the Armed Forces and Abu Dhabi Police.

The council will continue to work with its strategic partners to strengthen the country’s defense capabilities and achieve strategic priorities in this area.

E.M