Saudis Mull Another F-15 Purchase

The Bulletin ^ | 3/12/2010 | David Bedein

[ErnstStavroBlofeld]

The Middle East newsline has confirmed that Saudi Arabia has advanced in negotiations to purchase a fighter jet from the United States.

The Saudi leadership, in wake of receiving the first Eurofighters, has been examining the U.S.-built F-15 for a procurement contract in 2010. They said Saudi Defense Minister Crown Prince Sultan Bin Abdul Aziz has supported the prospect of an additional purchase of at least two squadrons of F-15s in a deal that could top $5 billion.

“The assessment is that the Royal Saudi Air Force requires a platform that it is comfortable with, yet much more advanced than those it now operates,” an industry source said.

The Saudi air force operates about 150 F-15s, purchased in the 1970s and 1990s. The sources said Riyad has been briefed on the option to develop a stealth version of the F-15E.

This month, the United States sent a series of defense delegations to Saudi Arabia to discuss another fighter jet purchase. The first delegation was that of F-15 manufacturer Boeing, which, on March 8, met Sultan as well as his son, Deputy Defense Minister Prince Khaled, regarded as a leading official in weapons procurement.

The Boeing delegation was led by President James McNerney. Other company representatives were identified as senior Vice President Shepherd Hill and Ahmed Jaazar, manager of Boeing in Saudi Arabia.

Two days later, U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates arrived in Saudi Arabia for what was termed military and defense cooperation talks. Mr. Gates also met Sultan as well as King Abdullah to discuss both regional issues as well as arms sales.

[onedoug]

We should take the saudis down, big time, and nationalize their oil to ourselves.

[The Magical Mischief Tour]

Getting antsy about Iran?