Sale Of Advance Aircraft Systems, Including F-15's, Expected To Top $60 Billion

The White House is reportedly about to notify Congress of its intention to pursue a $60 billion deal with Saudi Arabia that would include the sale of advanced aircraft to the Kingdom. The White House says the deal will support some 75,000 U.S. jobs while showing support for a key ally against Iran in the Persian Gulf region.

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The talks have been going on for months, but the Wall Street Journal reports that the numbers of types of aircraft are now coming into focus. The deal would reportedly include 84 new F-15's along with upgrades for 70 more of the aircraft. It would also authorize the sale of 178 helicopters.

The English language version of Al Jazeera reports that the F-15's would start arriving in Saudi Arabia about the same time that Israel is slated to receive its first F-35 JSF aircraft, and that the upgraded F-15's would not have the range to allow strikes into Israeli territory.

The terms of the agreement span a 10 year period, depending on production schedules. An unnamed "senior defense official" told the WSJ that the Saudis might shift their priorities over that time period, but that the F-15's are a "priority item." One analyst said that the agreement is so large and complex that changes are unavoidable.

FMI: www.whitehouse.gov, www.dod.gov