US finalizes $30 billion deal for F-15SA fighter jets to Saudi Arabia

US finalizes deal to sell F-15s to Saudi Arabia; part of effort to contain threats from Iran

By Associated Press

HONOLULU — The sale of $30 billion worth of F-15SA fighter jets to Saudi Arabia has been finalized, boosting the military strength of a key U.S. ally in the Middle East to help counter Iran, the Obama administration announced Thursday.

Under the agreement, the U.S. will send Saudi Arabia 84 new fighter jets and upgrades for 70 more. Production of the aircrafts, which will be manufactured by Boeing Co., will support 50,000 jobs and have a $3.5 billion annual economic impact in the U.S., the White House said.

The sale is part of a larger U.S. effort to realign its defense policies in the Persian Gulf to keep Iran in check. The announcement came as U.S. officials weighed a fresh threat from Tehran, which warned this week it could disrupt traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital Persian Gulf oil transport route, if Washington levies new sanctions targeting Iran’s crude exports.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/us-finalizes-deal-to-sell-f-15s-to-saudi-arabia-part-of-effort-to-contain-threats-from-iran/2011/12/29/gIQAKixdOP_story.html