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sraelis closely monitoring the growing defense budgets of ArabGulfstates though a Washington-based military affairs expert told Mishpacha thatIsrael has little to worry about in the short term.

TheUSis planning to sell $7 billion worth of Boeing fighter jets toQatarandKuwait fourUSand Gulf-based sources told Reuters in a report published last week. TheUSis considering selling 36 Boeing F-15 fighter jets toQatarand 28 F/A-18E/F Super Hornets with an option for 12 more toKuwait.

The sales were delayed for more than two years as Israel raised concerns noted the report which also quoted a source saying a third deal of F-16 Lockheed Martin jets to Bahrain is further from completion.

For all these countries the acquisitions represent a significant upgrade from previous weapons systems. The purchases will allow them to project power regionally but more significantly the weapons are meant to deter an emboldenedIran which has acted aggressively since it signed a nuclear deal with world powers.

Sunni Arab states are very concerned about a perceivedUSshift towardIranand are doing their utmost to upgrade their capabilities as theUSslowly withdraws from the region.

Still said Patrick Megahan a researcher who manages the militaryedge.org website at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies even with all these weapons purchases theGulf Statesare far behindIsraelin terms of weapons know-how.

“Whatever impressive equipment they do have they’re dependent on theUSand others to maintain it” he said.

From 2012 to 2014 amid increasing tensions between Shi’ites and Sunnis theMiddle Easthas had the biggest defense buildup in the world according to IHS Jane’s Defense Budgets. Defense spending in the Middle East andNorth Africais projected to reach almost $180 billion by 2020 according to the magazine.

Saudi Arabia’s defense budget alone went from $32 billion in 2010 to $48 billion in 2015. It is expected to surpass $50 billion by 2019 making it one of the biggest in the world. “Saudi Arabiais expected to be spending more on defense thanFranceandRussiaby the end of the decade” said Craig Caffrey principal analyst at IHS Jane’s Defense Budgets.

Qatar Caffrey added is also adding muscle to its military. Since 2014 the Gulf nation has finalized $25 billion in deals. “That is staggering considering their total defense budget is around $4.5 billion a year ” he said.

Despite all the purchases Megahan pointed out thatGulf statesstill lag behind in areas in whichIsraelexcels such as intelligence gathering surveillance reconnaissance missile defense command control and submarine warfare.

The one regional exception Megahan said is theUnited Arab Emirates a Saudi ally that has shown itself capable of using the weapons it has purchased. “[The UAE] is buying some fancy new toys that they don’t need but everything I’ve heard and seen regarding their proficiency has been positive.”