Posted on 09/13/2010 8:56:24 AM PDT by mojito
WASHINGTON (AFP) – In the largest US arms deal ever, the administration of US President Barack Obama is ready to notify Congress of plans to offer advanced aircraft to Saudi Arabia worth up to 60 billion dollars, The Wall Street Journal reported Monday.
The newspaper said the administration was also in talks with the kingdom about potential naval and missile-defense upgrades that could be worth tens of billions of dollars more.
[....]
In its notification to Congress, expected to be submitted this week or next, the administration will authorize the Saudis to buy as many as 84 new F-15 fighters, upgrade 70 more, and purchase three types of helicopters -- 70 Apaches, 72 Black Hawks and 36 Little Birds, The Journal noted, citing unnamed officials.
The notification will set off a congressional review.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
Maybe.
It might also be construed as an anti-Israel measure.
We'll see if Israel is offered a similar package.
It is an anti-Iranian message and measure. The Saudis have already given Israel permission to use their air space if they need to.
Rep’s need to let the people know?
Rep’s need to let the people know?
At least we’re exporting something to the world.
Hopefully every plane will have some kind of electronic “kill switch” that our guys can activate.
Didn’t he nullify an arms deal of some sort to Israel in the last year or so because of ongoing settlements on the west bank?
If so that would be ABOVE TOP SECRET. What's your source?
Anti Israel equals anti west, anti democracy.
My bet is anti Israel , anti Iran then the west. Not necessarily in that order.
Saudis are shareholders or MAJOR joint venture partners with 5 out of 6 American TV networks.
Wonder why TV talks about “moderate islam” all the time? In between “dumb white men” commericials.
I don’t care how this is peddled - the Saudi’s support terrorism, even if our current and previous presidents won’t admit it. Their form of Wahhabism feeds the anti-Israel, anti-West sentiment that grows terrorism.
Such a deal, in my view, is an act of treason.
But who cares - the ONE approved this... so no-one will blink.
I have read that “given Israel permission...” bit several times here on FR, but have yet to find any real source for that statement outside of some flakey pages...
I don’t trust ANY islamic regime - period. Particularly those that the President of the United States feels it necessary to bow down to...
The electronics will be manufactured in china, the included back door kill switch will be theirs.
As I understand it, Obama has cut off funding for F-15s for our own air force. But he wants to sell the Saudis a bunch of them, to use as they please?
Kind of like refusing to let Americans drill off our cost, but lending Brazil billions to drill off of their coast.
Maybe he can figure out a way to contract out building these F-15s to China. Then he’d really have a trifecta.
Sikorsky uses a Chinese sub-contractor? Intersting.
Might be a equity buying opporutnity. What is the name of Chinese sub-contractor?
Related article:
SEPTEMBER 12, 2010
Saudi Arms Deal Advances
{snip}
The talks between the U.S. and Saudi Arabia have been widely known for months, but many new details are only now coming into focus. These include the number and type of aircraft involved, how much the Saudis intend to spend in an initial installment, and the ongoing negotiations to also upgrade the kingdom’s navy and missile defenses.
The $60 billion in fighter jets and helicopters is the top-line amount requested by the Saudis, even though the kingdom is likely to commit initially to buying only about half that amount.
In a notification to Congress, expected to be submitted this week or next, the administration will authorize the Saudis to buy as many as 84 new F-15 fighters, upgrade 70 more, and purchase three types of helicopters—70 Apaches, 72 Black Hawks and 36 Little Birds, officials said.
{snip}
On top of the $60 billion package of fighter jets and helicopters, U.S. officials are discussing a potential $30 billion package to upgrade Saudi Arabia’s naval forces. An official described these as “discreet, bilateral conversations” in which no agreement has yet been reached. That deal could include littoral combat ships, surface vessels intended for operations close to shore, the official said.
Talks are also underway to expand Saudi Arabia’s ballistic-missile defenses. The U.S. is encouraging the Saudis to buy systems known as THAAD—Terminal High Altitude Defense—and to upgrade its Patriot missiles to reduce the threat from Iranian rockets. U.S. officials said it was unclear how much this package would be worth.
The U.S. has sought to build up missile defense across the region, and the Saudi package could be similar to one in the United Arab Emirates, officials said. THAAD is built by Lockheed Martin Corp. and Raytheon Co. supplies the system’s radar. THAAD is the first system designed to defend against short- and intermediate-range ballistic missiles both inside and outside the Earth’s atmosphere. It complements the lower-aimed Patriot missile defense system, providing a layered defense.
Lockheed officials have stated that they see serious export potential for the system in the Middle East, where a major concern exists about Iran’s ballistic missile development.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704621204575488361149625050.html?ru=yahoo&mod=yahoo_hs
There probably isn't an American military aircraft, fixed or rotary wing, flying that doesn't have china made electronics to some degree or another.
There are a number of issues with quality control and because of the complexity unwanted and difficult to find "additions".
I heard it reported, too.
June 12, 2010
Saudi Arabia gives Israel clear skies to attack Iranian nuclear sites
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/middle_east/article7148555.ece
Stratfor.com, very respected site.
In South Carolina we have alligators, they can go for months between meals. An alligator that has just eaten his fill will lie in the sun and not move for hours, he is not hungry so why should he do anything unless he is threatened? These are known as “moderate” alligators. Kinda like “moderate” muslims. You can’t really trust either one.
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