U.S., Saudi Sign F-15 Warplanes Deal Worth $29bn
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
The United States said Thursday it had sent a "strong message" to the Gulf region, as tensions rise with Iran, by signing a $29.4 billion deal to provide F-15 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia.
The deal, which was signed over the weekend, will supply 84 new Boeing F-15SA aircraft and modernize 70 existing planes and include munitions, spare parts, training and maintenance contracts, U.S. officials said.
It sends "a strong message to countries in the region that the United States is committed to stability in the Gulf and broader Middle East," said senior State Department official Andrew Shapiro.
"It will enhance Saudi Arabia's ability to deter and defend against external threats to its sovereignty," he told reporters.
The deal, announced formally on Thursday in Hawaii as President Barack Obama vacationed in his native state, was first unveiled in October 2010 as part of a $60 billion U.S. arms sale to Saudi Arabia.
In Honolulu, White House deputy spokesman Josh Earnest said the deal would support more than 50,000 American jobs at a time of high unemployment and provide a $3.5 billion annual boost to the U.S. economy.
"This agreement reinforces the strong and enduring relationship between the United States and Saudi Arabia, and demonstrates the U.S. commitment to a strong Saudi defense capability as a key component to regional security," Earnest said.
The delivery of the package would unfold over 15 to 20 years and also includes Black Hawk and Apache attack helicopters, defense officials said.
Thursday's announcement came with tensions between Iran and the United States and its Gulf allies on the rise over Tehran's nuclear drive.
Iran has rejected a warning that the U.S. military will not tolerate any attempt by Tehran to close the strategic Strait of Hormuz to tankers in a move that would threaten deep disruption to global oil supplies.
29 December 2011, 22:00
101
hahahahahahaha absolutely spot on, these guys have loads of hardware decaying in their harbors, they are so stupid that they can't even train to fly one of these and i doubt they'll last 20 seconds in the air in real combat, 29bn dollar deal! shame on you you worthless bags tfou gha hek ghalam bajam! quarter of that money would save half of Africa from starvation or your fellow arab brother for that matter, you are a plague to humanity serving no purpose to either man or nature, your waste of resources is a crime against human evolution!
29 December 2011, 22:06
102
Saudis must be real worried about Iran, well here's some newsflash for you, Iran outsmarts you in every level imaginable, they can overrun you and burn you in matter of hours and you wouldn't even see it coming no amount of american hardware will save you there, statistically Iran is the only Muslim nation in the region which has put its resources to self productivity and serious research to both military and otherwise, politics is another matter but when it comes to the smarts/culture/people sorry no Arab state can top that or come close for that matter.
29 December 2011, 22:52
29
They have a qualified pilots , This is Saudi arabia , not Lebanon
30 December 2011, 01:31
112
Now Iran is going to need 3 hours to take over Saudi Arabia instead of 2 hours. Congratulations Saudi Arabia on supporting the crashing US economy for nothing in return.
30 December 2011, 04:12
102
they could have spent this money to finally introduce the following course: how not to play with your toes in front of other. And they could have spend it into some reforms that they are in need of: democracy,freedom of speech, Finally let Christians have a church there.
but Americans are simply controlling them like puppets , you must buy f15s or else Iran will attack you. They already have 72 Euro fighters, and 150 f15 fighters, what else they need another batch of fighters. Just go have some neighbourly talks with Iran and avoid all these spendings on war and weapons that you will never use.
30 December 2011, 19:42
28
"you are a plague to humanity serving no purpose to either man or nature, your waste of resources is a crime against human evolution!"
what about iran too? what are they doing for africa? what are they doing to improve the standard of living of the iranians instead of spending billions on nuclear? what are they doing with the freedom of speech and beliefs?
if you attack the saudis talk also about the ayatollahs! they are the same...
30 December 2011, 20:59
00
@mouthful sure, unfortunately cold war is back again, and all countries are increasing their defense budgets, but for what? The question is who are the enemies of Saudie arabia? 30 billion $ spent on f15 fighters, what a joke, they weren't even able to fight those rebels on their borders with Yemen (housiyin) so funny, they ware only 50 to 100 and all their fighter jets did nothing. Maybe they can spend this 30 billion back in Lebanon, buying cars to lebanese girls, and spoil them a bit more than they are.
30 December 2011, 22:25
30
shab, your like a little rat hiding behind your screen telling others to bomb others. Go say it in public if you dare. You coward. You have probably never even showered in your entire life. You just sit in front of your screen all day cursing. Be honest, did a shia do your mother or sister?
