Saudi Arabia orders $30bn of US fighter jets

05 January 2012

Lockheed wins $1.96bn defence deal with UAE

The US government has signed a $29.4bn deal to sell new fighter jets to Saudi Arabia, its largest single foreign arms sale.

The deal includes 84 Boeing F-15SA fighters with Raytheon radar equipment and digital electronic warfare systems. It will also include upgrades bringing Saudi Arabia’s 70 older F-15s up to the new standard along with anti-radiation missiles and other services.

The first new F-15s are expected to be delivered to Saudi Arabia in early 2015.

The Obama administration notified Congress of the proposed sale in October 2010 as part of a larger package worth as much as $60bn over 10-15 years. This is expected to include attack helicopters, munitions, spare parts, training, maintenance and logistics.

The US’ Lockheed Martin has won a $1.96bn contract to produce high altitude missile defence systems for the UAE.

Lockhead will produce Terminal High Altitude Area Defence (Thaad) weapon system for the US’ Missile Defence Agency, according to a 30 December press release. 

No details on delivery have been released. The contract is the first foreign military sale of the system and includes the production of two Thaad weapon systems and additional maintenance and support equipment.

The Missile Defense Agency is developing the ballistic missile defence system to defend the US and its allies against ballistic missiles of all ranges and in all phases of flight.

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