ABU DHABI — Former US Defense Secretary William Cohen called for more direct US foreign military sales to the Arabian Gulf region at the IDEX Defence Conference here on Saturday.

Cohen, CEO of who is the Chief Executive of corporate leadership firm The Cohen Group, told Defense News that the UAE is very interested in acquiring UAV systems from the US, and as along with finalizing the Terminal High Altitude Air Defense system and upgrading its deal along with upgrades to the F-16 Block 60 fighters to Block 61.

"The UAE need high-end capabilities," Cohen said at the conference, which was held ahead of the main IDEX show, opening on Sunday. "They are someone that we need to be working very closely with because should there be any conflicts in the region today they will be in the front lines with us."

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The upgrades, requested in January 2014, would enable the aircraft to efficiently communicate with next generation fighters such as the F-35 and F-22, as well as streamline operational effectiveness in an international coalition, according to analysts.

According to the Defense Security Cooperation Agency, the UAE has requested the purchase of 30 F-16 Block 61 aircraft and the upgrade of its existing F-16 Block 60 fleet at an estimated cost of $270 million.

At times, Cohen said, sales to the region are held back due to "bureaucratic inertia."

"You can get the Department o Defense to sign off on, you can get Commerce [Department] to do so also, but then State [Department] would say no, at other times you would get Commerce to say no, so it's part of the bureaucratic inertia and having to overcome that," he said

He added "We do not have to worry about end use and whether they can be trusted and maintain control."

He said that the case has to be made to policy makers that if they want to continue this relationship, or not as the UAE and gulf partners can go to "the Russians, Chinese and other suppliers."

"We have to maintain this relationship and we have to work with them and see that they are a valuable partner and ally," he added.

Email:amustafa@defensenews.com

Awad Mustafa was a Middle East and Africa correspondent for Defense News.

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