The State Department and Pentagon informed lawmakers on
Wednesday of the sales that will include 84 new sophisticated F-15 fighter
jets, upgrades to 70 existing Saudi F-15s, 190 helicopters and a wide array of
missiles, bombs, launchers and equipment such as night-vision goggles and radar
warning systems.
Officials said the deal is designed to improve Saudi
Arabia's defenses, promote stability in the Gulf and strengthen US national
security. Congress has 30 days to block the deal but the officials said they
did not expect significant opposition.
Andrew Shapiro, the assistant secretary of state for
political-military affairs, told a news conference the US administration did not
anticipate any objections to the sale from Israel, traditionally wary of arms
sales to nearby Arab countries.
“We think it will enhance regional security and stability
rather than diminish it,” Shapiro told a news conference.
The sale, which had been expected, includes 70 of Boeing's
Apache attack helicopters and 36 of its AH-6M Little Birds. In addition, the
deal will include 72 Black Hawk helicopters built by Sikorsky Aircraft, a unit
of United Technologies Corporation.
Shapiro said the total value of the package would not exceed
$60 billion, although he emphasized that Saudi Arabia may choose not to
exercise all of its purchase options during the program, which will last from
15 to 20 years.
Alexander Vershbow, the assistant secretary of defense for
international security affairs, said the United States had discussed the matter
with Israel, and concluded that it would not undercut Israel's qualitative
military edge in the region.
“We have consulted with Israel as this sale has taken shape
... based on what we've heard at high levels, Israel does not object to this
sale," he said.
Vershbow and Shapiro both stressed that bolstering Saudi
Arabia's own defense capabilities would improve US security in a vital part of
the world.
Vershbow said the sale would improve Saudi Arabia's ability
to coordinate with the United States on shared security challenges "so it
means we may have to station fewer forces on a continuing basis in the
region."
US officials are also discussing a possible deal to upgrade
Saudi Arabia's navy, which one official estimated could be worth an additional
$30 billion.
