Saudi Says U.S. Jet Deal Aims to Maximize Defense
Saudi Arabia said Friday it has signed a deal to buy 84 new U.S. fighter jets to maximize its defense capabilities in order to protect the oil-rich kingdom.
The deal the United States said is worth $30 billion "ensures the kingdom receives the highest possible defense capabilities to protect its people and land," state news agency SPA quoted a Defense Ministry spokesman as saying.
The United States said Thursday the arms deal sent a "strong message" to the Gulf region.
The announcement came with tensions between Iran and the United States on the rise after Tehran threatened to close the Strait of Hormuz to oil tankers if Washington implements a new raft of sanctions over its nuclear program.
The $29.4 billion deal, which was signed on Saturday in Riyadh, will supply 84 new Boeing F-15SA aircraft, modernize 70 existing planes, and also includes munitions, spare parts, training and maintenance contracts, U.S. officials said.
The deal was first unveiled in October 2010 as part of a $60 billion U.S. arms sale to Saudi Arabia.
The delivery of the whole package will unfold over 15 to 20 years and also includes Black Hawk and Apache attack helicopters, defense officials said.
First deliveries of the aircraft will be made in early 2015, while the modernization of existing planes will start in 2014 and the first payments for the deal are expected in the coming weeks and months.
Source: Agence France Presse
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