US finalises $11.4 billion Saudi order for F-15s

Flight Global ^ | 3/10/2012 | Dave Majumdar

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Boeing has received a previously announced contract worth $11.4 billion to supply Saudi Arabia with 84 F-15SA Strike Eagle fighters, the US military announced on 8 March.

"This particular undefinitsed contract action covers development efforts for the new aircraft and retrofit as well as procurement of the 84 new production aircraft," the announcement reads. "Work is expected to be completed October 2020."

The sale was finalised last December when the Saudis signed a letter of offer and acceptance for a package of 84 new jets, upgrades to 70 older F-15S fighters, and associated weapons systems and sensors.

The F-15SA is one of the most advanced variants of the Eagle ever built. The aircraft are equipped with a Raytheon APG-63(V)3 active electronically scanned array radar and twin General Electric F110-129 turbofans, among a host other advanced hardware.

The F-15SA is also the first version of the Eagle with a fly-by-wire flight control system.

[DUMBGRUNT]

Do the Saudi’s have their own domestic maintenance operation?

With only fuel and limited basic maintenance how useful would they be?

Check engine light blinks red?

What system would fail first?

If I’m dug in 200 klicks north of the Saudi border need I be concerned?

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Along with the deal,includes “munitions, spare parts, training, maintenance and logistics.” There has been a increase of F-15 technicians needed of overseas. There is a company called Reliance Aerotech Services which is located in Saudi Arabia. They specialize in F-15 maintenance.