Saudis to buy aircraft worth $60B in largest U.S. arms deal

[Jacobson]

As telegraphed last month, the Pentagon today notified Congress it plans to sell Saudi Arabia up to $60 billion in advanced fighter jets and attack helicopters, the largest-ever U.S. arms deal.

The 10-year contract is being pitched as necessary to counter Iran and other regional threats, as well as being good for the nation's multibillion-dollar defense contractors. Boeing alone has said that 77,000 jobs would be supported, though there's no estimate of how many new jobs might be created.

The Saudis could buy up to 84 new F-15 fighters and upgrade 70 more older models. The F-15s, made by McDonnell Douglas, will not be outfitted with long-range weapons in deference to Israeli concerns. The Saudis would also purchase 70 Boeing-made AH-64D Apache Longbow helicopters, 72 UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters (Sikorsky), 36 AH-6i light attack helicopters (Boeing) and 12 MD-530F light training helicopters (McDonnell Douglas).

Because the Israeli government discussed the sale directly with the Obama administration, it's not seeking congressional hearings or assurances, a spokesman for the Israeli Embassy in Washington told the Jerusalem Post.

The lame-duck Congress will take up the deal after the Nov. 2 election.

Here's a transcript of a news briefing by the State Department, which announced the deal, along with background on the Royal Saudi Air Force.

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/...s-deal--/1

[Paul Harris]

That's some good news, that should create thousands of new jobs at home.

[breakone1]

mission concluded that Israel's naval blockade of the Palestinian territory was unlawful because of the humanitarian crisis there, and described the military raid on the flotilla as brutal and disproportionate.

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[shopping20110916]

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[LiamNolan12]

Great news to create jobs iin these hard times !

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