In September 2014, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency [DSCA], the agency responsible for exports of US military materiel, recommended that Congress accept a potential sale to the United Arab Emirates of 4,569 MRAP type armored vehicles [Mine Resistant Ambush Protected ], specially designed to counter the threat of improvised explosive devices [IED], as part of a program launched on an emergency basis to meet the needs of the US Army and US Marine Corps. The amount of the invoice was then estimated at 2.5 billion dollars.
According to the Pentagon’s Joint Program Office, these MRAP vehicles, fitted with V-shaped armor allowing them to deflect the blast of an explosion outwards, have saved 30,000 lives in Afghanistan and 10,000 more in Iraq. A total of 27,000 were built, at an estimated cost of $ 50 billion.
However, in January 2014, given the great disparity of models [at least 25 different versions were put into service] and therefore the difficulty in ensuring maintenance, the US Army announced that it would keep only a third of the models. MRAP products in its inventory, the rest being called upon to be resold. So this aroused the interest of the United Arab Emirates.
Since then, these 4,569 MRAPs have been added to the 3,000 Nimr vehicles used by the UAE’s land forces, which are small in strength [the UAE armed forces number around 60,000 soldiers, note]. Theoretically, at least.
Indeed, in February 2019, an investigation published by the Washington Post revealed that a number of these MRAP vehicles had been handed over to armed militias – with varying alliances – in Yemen. And a few had even fallen into the hands of the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels.
At the time, the Pentagon said it took « allegations of misuse of US-origin defense equipment very seriously » and said it would launch « investigations once credible evidence is received. »
However, and despite this case, the DSCA once again recommended that Congress accept a request from the United Arab Emirates for the acquisition of a new batch of 4,569 MRAP vehicles, in a notice published on May 7, at title of « excess defense articles » [Excess Defense Articles, EDA]. And for a bill of « only » $ 556 million [five times cheaper than in September 2014].
“The proposed sale will support United States foreign policy and national security objectives by helping to improve the security of an important regional partner. The United Arab Emirates has been and continues to be a key partner for political stability and economic progress in the Middle East. This sale is in line with US initiatives to provide key allies in the region with modern systems that will improve interoperability with US forces and increase security, « DSCA argues
As for the use that the Emirates intend to make of these 4,569 MRAPs, the American agency assures us that they will make it possible to « increase the protection » of the Emirati forces, to « carry out humanitarian assistance operations » and to « protect essential infrastructure ”.
He added that the « United Arab Emirates will have no difficulty in absorbing this equipment into its armed forces. » Truly?
As a reminder, the latest report from the United Nations expert group on Libya indicates that MRAP vehicles were delivered to the Libyan National Army [LNA] under Marshal Khalifa Haftar, despite the arms embargo.
“The Group of Experts had indicated the presence in Libya of vehicles protected against mines and ambushes of the Caiman 6 × 6 type, during the siege of Derna, in August 2017. The presence of seven Caiman 6 × 6 vehicles well maintained, stored by Haftar’s armed forces in Benghazi, was observed during the period under consideration, ”it says.
However, and knowing that the United Arab Emirates are supporting Marshal Haftar in his standoff with the Libyan National Unity Government [GNA], 1,150 Cayman vehicles were part of the sale approved in September 2014 by the DSCA …