The US military on Wednesday began moving 12 US aircraft on display at the Dubai Airshow to a nearby maintenance facility ahead of a major sandstorm and thunderstorm expected to hit the region, a spokesman for US Air Force Central Command said.

Major David Faggard said US officials decided to move the aircraft away from the static display at the air show given forecasts of 45-knot winds and severe thunderstorms.

Air show organisers said precautions were being taken to secure the display area, but they were unaware of plans by other aircraft owners to move their aircraft.

The US military brought a wide array of aircraft to the show, including two helicopters, a stealthy Lockheed Martin Corp F-22, four V-22 tiltrotor aircraft built by Boeing Co and Bell Helicopter, a unit of Textron Inc, a Boeing F-15E fighter and a B-1 bomber. - Reuters