Wednesday, August 11, 2010
F-15E Strike Eagle dropping a GBU-28 bunker buster bomb
Despite complaints from officials in Israel, the Obama administration plans to sell $30 billion in advanced fighter jets to Saudi Arabia, making it one of the biggest weapons sales of its kind.
Israel, which has long maintained military superiority over its Arab neighbors, managed to win one important concession from Washington: the F-15 fighters, which will be delivered in about 2015, won’t be equipped with long-range missiles that could potentially make the planes a threat to the Jewish state.
The arms deal is said to include 84 F-15 Strike Eagles made by Boeing and 72 Black Hawk helicopters manufactured by Sikorsky.
Administration officials have received assurances from Israel that it will not lobby Congress to oppose the sale.
-Noel Brinkerhoff
U.S. to Sell F-15s to Saudis (by Adam Entous, Wall Street Journal)
Saudi F-15 Deal Bodes Well for Boeing, St. Louis (by Steve Giegerich, St. Louis Post-Dispatch)
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