on the up and up, page-18

FT article on the deal for those interested

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/1c68d10e-dbd4-11df-af09-00144feabdc0,s01=1.html

Congress told of $60bn arms sale to Saudis
By Daniel Dombey in Washington
Published: October 20 2010 00:10 | Last updated: October 21 2010 00:54
The Obama administration has formally approved more than $60bn in arms sales to Saudi Arabia, the largest such transaction in history. Supporters of the deal, notified to Congress on Wednesday after prolonged consultations, say it will boost regional defences against Iran and provide thousands of jobs.

The transaction, to be rolled out over 15 to 20 years, is divided into four packages. The biggest, totalling $29.4bn, includes the sale of 84 Boeing F-15 fighter aircraft and the upgrade of another 70 F-15s, as well as advanced missiles, night vision goggles and guided munitions.

The US says it will increase the Royal Saudi Air Force?s ability to defend against ?regional threats? and foster the countries? long-term military-to-military relationship. The technology behind some of the equipment and software, such as the APG-63 radar, the AAR-57 missile warning system and data for guided JDAM bombs, is classified as secret.
The other three packages, which total $31.1bn, include 72 Blackhawk helicopters, 70 Apache attack helicopters and thousands of Hellfire missiles. Not included are a naval upgrade and missile defence, both currently under discussion.

Congress is considered unlikely to hold up the deal, despite concern among some members about the long-term impact of arming Saudi Arabia to such an extent.

After discussions between Robert Gates, US defence secretary, and Ehud Barak, his Israeli counterpart, Washington has agreed to restrict the F-15s? capability to hit distant targets, ensuring they would pose less of a threat to Israel. Last month the US also announced that it would allow Israel to buy F-35 Joint Strike Fighters, which are more advanced than the F-15.

Israel has signalled it will not oppose the deal. ?Within the framework of the US commitment to maintaining Israel?s military edge, we have had a close, consistent dialogue about the Saudi deal, even though we are not thrilled about it,? said an Israeli spokesman.

The proposed sale is part of a wider military build-up in the Middle East, which the US administration says helps to hold Iran in check. However, Washington denies that it is seeking to contain or deter a possible Iranian nuclear threat, arguing that Tehran must be prevented from acquiring nuclear weapons capability