<p>Secretary of State Mike Pompeo confirmed Tuesday that the United States planned to sell top-of-the-line F-35 fighter jets to the United Arab Emirates as part of a $23.37 billion package.</p>.<p>The State Department sent a formal notice to Congress on the sale of the stealth precision planes, long sought by the Gulf Arab ally which won a green light after agreeing in September to recognize Israel.</p>.<p>"The UAE's historic agreement to normalize relations with Israel under the Abraham Accords offers a once-in-a-generation opportunity to positively transform the region's strategic landscape," Pompeo said in a statement.</p>.<p>"Our adversaries, especially those in Iran, know this and will stop at nothing to disrupt this shared success," he said.</p>.<p>Democratic lawmakers on October 29 had reported that the State Department had informally discussed the sale with Congress, which has the power to block arms sales.</p>.<p>The Democrats voiced mixed feelings, fearing that the sale would set off an arms race in the region and jeopardize Israel's undisputed military edge in the region.</p>.<p>But Israel dropped objections to the sale as it sought even more high-tech equipment from the United States.</p>.<p>Pompeo confirmed that the sale would include up to 50 F-35s -- equivalent to the size of Israel's fleet of the Lockheed Martin aircraft, which can be used to gather intelligence, conduct airstrikes and carry out air-to-air combat.</p>.<p>Pompeo said the sale would also include up to 18 MQ-9B advanced drones as well as $10 billion worth of air and ground munitions.</p>
<p>Secretary of State Mike Pompeo confirmed Tuesday that the United States planned to sell top-of-the-line F-35 fighter jets to the United Arab Emirates as part of a $23.37 billion package.</p>.<p>The State Department sent a formal notice to Congress on the sale of the stealth precision planes, long sought by the Gulf Arab ally which won a green light after agreeing in September to recognize Israel.</p>.<p>"The UAE's historic agreement to normalize relations with Israel under the Abraham Accords offers a once-in-a-generation opportunity to positively transform the region's strategic landscape," Pompeo said in a statement.</p>.<p>"Our adversaries, especially those in Iran, know this and will stop at nothing to disrupt this shared success," he said.</p>.<p>Democratic lawmakers on October 29 had reported that the State Department had informally discussed the sale with Congress, which has the power to block arms sales.</p>.<p>The Democrats voiced mixed feelings, fearing that the sale would set off an arms race in the region and jeopardize Israel's undisputed military edge in the region.</p>.<p>But Israel dropped objections to the sale as it sought even more high-tech equipment from the United States.</p>.<p>Pompeo confirmed that the sale would include up to 50 F-35s -- equivalent to the size of Israel's fleet of the Lockheed Martin aircraft, which can be used to gather intelligence, conduct airstrikes and carry out air-to-air combat.</p>.<p>Pompeo said the sale would also include up to 18 MQ-9B advanced drones as well as $10 billion worth of air and ground munitions.</p>