In preparation for what appears to be its fourth major arms sale to Qatar in the past six months, the U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) notified Congress Thursday of plans to make foreign military sales to Qatar (link opens in PDF).
Over the past several months, DSCA has petitioned Congress with plans to sell the Qataris a platoon of mobile rocket launchers in December, a phalanx of antitank missiles in April, and an anti-anti-aircraft missile defense system in May. Now, the Agency is cluing in Congress to a planned sale of two spare engines for C-17 Globemaster III transport planes.
The engines in question, two F117-PW-100s, are manufactured by United Technologies (RTX -0.18%) subsidiary Pratt & Whitney. According to DSCA, their sale would generate about $35 million in revenues for Pratt.
DSCA supports the sale, noting that it "will contribute to the foreign policy and national security of the United States by helping to improve the security of a friendly country that has been, and continues to be, an important force for political stability and economic progress in the Middle East. The proposed sale will enhance Qatar's ability to operate and maintain its C-17s, supporting its capability to provide humanitarian aid in the Middle East and Africa region and support its troops in coalition operations."
At the same time, DSCA reassured Congress: "There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a result of this proposed sale."
