U.S. Air Force Vice Chief of Staff Stephen Wilson was responding to a reporter's question about the possibility of selling advanced jets to the UAE.

"Specifically with the F-35s, we look at all of our partners and nations and allies and their requirements and here in the Gulf they share many of the same adversaries and challenges," Wilson said.

"So we look to provide capabilities. So discussion is ongoing now with the new administration on selling F-35s to partner nations that need them, that require them."

He added, "They've started the process. Now with that you need discussion bilaterally between nations ... so further things on that will have to come from the UAE."

The F-35 is made by Lockheed Martin Corp (>> Lockheed Martin Corporation), with companies including Northrop Grumman Corp (>> Northrop Grumman Corporation), United Technologies Corp's (>> United Technologies Corporation) Pratt & Whitney and BAE Systems Plc (>> BAE Systems) also involved.

(Reporting by Noah Browning; Writing by Andrew Torchia; Editing by Susan Fenton and Edmund Blair)