Fighter Jet Deal: U.S. Reportedly Plans To Sell F-15s To Saudi Arabia

WASHINGTON — The Obama administration is poised to announce the sale of nearly $30 billion worth of F-15 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia, U.S. officials said Wednesday.

The deal will send 84 new fighter jets and upgrades for 70 more, for a total of $29.4 billion, according to the officials, who requested anonymity because the sale has not been made public.

The agreement boosts the military strength of Saudi Arabia, a key U.S. ally in the Middle East, at a time when the Obama administration is looking to counter Iranian threats in the region. Underscoring that effort was a fresh threat this week from Tehran, which warned that it could disrupt traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital Persian Gulf oil transport route, if Washington levies new sanctions targeting Iran's crude oil exports.

About a year ago, the administration got the go-ahead from Congress for a 10-year, $60 billion arms deal with Saudi Arabia that included F-15s, helicopters and a broad array of missiles, bombs and delivery systems, as well as radar warning systems and night-vision goggles.

The plan initially raised concerns from pro-Israeli lawmakers, but U.S. officials reassured Congress that Israel's military edge would not be undercut by the sale. Additionally, there is now broad agreement among Israel, the Gulf Arab states and the West that Iran poses a significant and unpredictable threat.

Saudi Arabia and Iran are bitter regional rivals. Tensions between them were further stoked earlier this year after the U.S. accused Iran of plotting to assassinate the Saudi ambassador to the U.S. in Washington.

Saudi Arabia is already the most militarily advanced of the Arab Gulf states, one of the richest countries in the world, and central to American policy in the Middle East. It is also vital to U.S. energy security, with Saudi Arabia ranking as the third-largest source of U.S. oil imports.

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Associated Press writer Julie Pace in Honolulu contributed to this report.

Comments

[Benhor]

09:54 AM on 01/01/2012

Thought personally I don't consider youtube a great source of info but i just stumbled on this video and thought to share it with you, considering the fact some of us think that Saudi are bunch of camel herding-desert-dwelling backwards.
Apparently, they do have very good pilots http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DnQX3n3XfJs

[aristippe]

05:41 PM on 12/31/2011

we are selling 18 F-16's to iraq as well.

[farmilyman]

07:50 AM on 12/31/2011

Weren't most of the 9/11 hijackers from Saudi Arabia?

[caseyjosh]

09:05 AM on 12/31/2011

Yes 15 of 19 but I'm pretty sure that they will not fly the F-15's into buildings.

[farmilyman]

10:19 AM on 12/31/2011

You have a lot of confidence in this fundamentalist Muslim country then.

[american-dolt]

11:00 AM on 12/31/2011

That's why were selling them F-15's.

[caseyjosh]

01:02 PM on 12/31/2011

Simple, because they pay and they pay well and they buy additional stuff such as weapons, training, services

[terry63]

08:07 PM on 12/30/2011

The F-15, and its Navy, Tomcat, brother has got to be my Favorite all time Fighter/bomber. I have always been a fan of the twin turbine. I hate to see it go. I know that its out dated just like the Phantom, before it. But It is a strikingly beautiful machine. Look for the Middle east allies to pick up a large quantity of America's military surplus as the troops come home, they will sell much of it so as not to have to pay for shipping it back home.

[bola47]

04:26 PM on 12/30/2011

your military industrial complex hard at work churning out billions in profits and sticking it to labor.

[Hunter3203]

07:14 PM on 12/30/2011

Uninformed comment. The F-15 is made using highly paid union labor.

[Fireslayer]

02:24 PM on 12/30/2011

No doubt they will use them to interdict women drivers.

[reality11]

01:07 PM on 12/30/2011

Good news. This will help counter the looneys in tehran. (And my Boeing stock will go up!)

[jimmythegreek]

01:23 PM on 12/30/2011

For a username like reality, you sure do live outside of it. How will boeing stock go up when the targets they strike cause fuel prices skyrocket causing more Boeings to stay grounded? Either way I'll be happy - several thousand shares of XOM happy :)

[Hunter3203]

07:22 PM on 12/30/2011

It's quite simple, Boeing sells both military and civilian aircraft. They will make a serious profit on the sale of their F-15s. If fuel prices go up that will actually help Boeing's commercial business. Currently produced airliners like the 787 are significantly more fuel efficient that most of the airliners in service. If fuel prices rise, airlines will retire their older less efficient aircraft and replace them with new aircraft.

[The Mighty Cynic]

11:33 AM on 12/30/2011

This is all good and well, but while no one was watching Iran used gene warfare to modify all Saudi Arabians into a people with ferocious cat allergies.

Tomorrow, Iran will unleash its new Basij unit: the Persian Furry Kitty Brigade (PFKB) across the border where the felines will run to Iraqis and rub against their legs, purring..rolling over on their bellies implying with their eyes, "pet me, please? :)"

[mu chowdhury]

02:42 PM on 12/30/2011

WOW !!!
F-15s are good toys to play with!!

[The Mighty Cynic]

11:29 AM on 12/30/2011

Well, good news is they already know how to fly these into our buildings.

[jimmythegreek]

01:25 PM on 12/30/2011

Plus one on this FACT!

[The Mighty Cynic]

01:48 PM on 12/30/2011

hmm you capped FACT so now it makes me wonder if you are an agent sent to make me think that I should follow what I said instead of thinking more into it.

:|

[banker67]

11:48 PM on 12/30/2011

Are you suggesting that, according to the official report on the World Trade Center attacks, 15 of the 19 hijackers were Saudi Arabian?

No wonder Cheney invaded Iraq and Afghanistan.

Were Saudi Arabians in the U.S. the only people allowed to fly all over the place picking up fellow Saudis for a swift trip home when every other airline was grounded? Or was it only bin Laden family members who were allowed by Cheney and Bush (assuming he was awake) to leave the country after the 911 attacks, no questions asked?

I forget.

Maybe the Afghans and Iraqis living in the U.S. were also allowed to fly across the U.S. when all U.S. citizens were grounded. No, that's not right. It was just the Saudis, the very best friends of the Bush family.

My mistake. Apologies all around.

[The Mighty Cynic]

03:12 PM on 01/01/2012

;)

[wyb]

11:16 AM on 12/30/2011

Do the owners of FOX News really need an upgraded air force to get the message out?

[Benhor]

09:35 PM on 12/30/2011

Just hope it was that easy....!

[banker67]

07:34 PM on 01/01/2012

What?

Don't the Saudis embrace the democratic ideals that American servicemen and women fight for? Hey, they're the best friends of the Bush family fortune, and they are, after all our sworn allies!

Because they are America's very best pals, I'm sure the Saudi royal family is infinitely tolerant of free speech, the right to assemble peaceably, women's rights, the right to vote and sanctity of human rights.

And you know what? I'll just bet our women in uniform are ever-so-proud to be fighting for the Saudi princes' vision of a woman's proper place in 21st-Century society. I know if I were just a 'lil ole gal' in uniform, I'd be willing to die for the men of Saudi Arabia and their devout belief that all women are at best chattel.

But if selling weapons to those wonderful champions of American ideals is what it takes to keep the profits pouring in to the Carlisle Group with all their DOD, CIA and State Department investors, then I guess it's just fine.

Far be it from me to question the wisdom of the authorities.

[Calilover Calilover]

10:12 AM on 12/30/2011

They ARE NOT "BITTER" RIVALS

Yes, they conflict on how to handle the business end of that oil

BUT, CULTURALLY, they share a collective ( rage) AGAINST THE WEST

"my enemies enemies , is my friend" and all that

Aircraft sales to them should be extremely limited

some lightweight surveillance , some light fighters

BUT F-16S AND UPGRADES!!!??

NO SIR

[Benhor]

09:33 PM on 12/30/2011

Sorry to burst your bubble the Saudis already own F-16, latest AWACS, Typhoons and any other advanced military hardware you could think of..
As the adage goes when you got the dough you get the goods.

[Calilover Calilover]

10:00 PM on 12/30/2011

Yes I knew that

but that doesnt mean we have to add to it

and you're correct they have the money so they do get the goods

My statement stands

sell them ......

[nelandquinten]

03:18 AM on 12/30/2011

Obviously America REALLY needs money bad.

[saint bernard mom]

02:06 AM on 12/30/2011

Our ties to the Saudis go back to the 1930s and everyone with a mutual fund or 401K has a stake in this. Standard Oil of California &,New Jersey, Texaco, Exxon, Mobil, Chevron,etc. Even tho the King owns the oil, WE drill and process it. And I don't know why his own country and people don't do this but this has always been handled by the US. 

" 1932 Oil is discovered in Bahrain. Socal begins a year-long series of negotiations with the Saudi government. 1933 Saudi Arabia grants oil concession to California Arabian Standard Oil Company (Casoc), affiliate of Standard Oil of California (Socal, today's Chevron). Oil prospecting begins on Kingdom's east coast. 1936 Texas Oil Company (which became Texaco, and now Chevron) acquires 50% interest in Socal's concession. The joint venture became known as the California Texas Oil Company, or Caltex. 1938 Kingdom's first commercial oil field discovered at Dhahran. Crude is exported by barge to Bahrain. 1939 First tanker load of petroleum is exported. (Socal’s D.G. Scofield) 1944 Casoc changes its name to Arabian American Oil Company (Aramco). 1945 Ras Tanura Refinery begins operations (eventually becomes the largest oil-refinery in the world). 1948 Standard Oil of New Jersey (which became Exxon and now ExxonMobil) and Socony-Vacuum Oil (which became Mobil and now ExxonMobil) join Socal (now Chevron) and Texaco (now Chevron) as owners of Aramco. "

Left out some years due to space.

"2007 Saudi Aramco subsidiary Saudi Aramco Sino Co. Ltd. signs agreements with ExxonMobil, Sinopec Corp and the Fujian Provincial Government of China to form two joint ventures: Fujian Refining and Petrochemical Co. Ltd., a refining and petrochemicals venture, and Sinopec SenMei (Fujian) Petroleum Co. Ltd. (SSPC), a marketing venture. 2008 Saudi Aramco celebrates the 75th anniversary of the May 29, 1933, signing of the oil concession between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Standard Oil of California (Socal)."

" 2011 Saudi Aramco starts production from Karan Gas Field, with an output of more than 400 standard cubic feet per day. [10] 2011 Saudi Aramco is officially named the world's largest and most valuable privately owned company. Saudi Aramco is said to be monopolizing the world's energy market. 2011 Aramco raised selling prices for all crude grades for customers in Asia and Northwest Europe for April shipments and cut prices for customers in the U.S.[11]"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saudi_Aramco

[Benhor]

09:28 PM on 12/30/2011

saint bernard mom: A great deal of corrections needs to be done on your wipedia page.
Yes Aramco was started by the original gang of 5 or "5 sisters" but today and the last 30 years Aramco is 100% owned and run by the saudis, of coarse there are about 5-7 thousand american and their families who work for Aramco out of 89k employees world-wide and only one American in top management who is the general council of the company.
http://www.saudiaramco.com/en/home/our-company/our-history0.html#our-company%257C%252Fen%252Fhome%252Four-company%252Four-history0.baseajax.html
http://www.saudiaramco.com/en/home/our-company/our-history0.html#our-company%257C%252Fen%252Fhome%252Four-company%252Fleadership.baseajax.html
https://www.cia.gov/library/center-for-the-study-of-intelligence/csi-publications/csi-studies/studies/vol.-54-no.-4/the-intelligence-officer2019s-bookshelf.html

[saint bernard mom]

12:34 AM on 01/03/2012

I didn't know that 5 sisters started that. You'd think with all that power, they would have fixed the driving situation!

I am not an expert on the Saudi situation, but the oil companies tried to recruit my ex to work over there. We did think about it seriously because the pay was 10 times his military pay, plus it was tax free (or close). But I had just done a year alone with a toddler and newborn and didn't think I could handle more with no help. This was over 30 years ago, so I know they have been using American cos for a long time.

I had a family member who worked there from the mid 70s to late 80s. They have complete compounds for the people who aren't Saudi, so they are still "contracting" out the work. I'm not really sure why they don't hire the locals to do the work, but there are still many foreigners doing the work.  35% is over a third of all workers, so it is strange that so much of the work force is not Saudi. 

"Work force: 6.49 million, about 35% foreign workers (2005 est.); industry--25%; services (including government)--63%; agriculture--12%."

http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/3584.htm

I did find this link showing the compounds. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kgnBmDvnmis

I posted this because our ties to the Saudis go back a long time. Some people here thought it started with Bush.  LOL 

[Sonza88]

12:55 AM on 12/30/2011

AHAHAHAHAAHHAHAHAHAHAH 15 of the 19 hijackers were from Saudi AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!

[The Mighty Cynic]

11:30 AM on 12/30/2011

:(