The US Department of Defense has approved a deal worth almost $ 10 billion, in which Boeing will upgrade Riyadh's F-15 fighter jets
Saudi Air Force F-15 plane // Photo: AP
The US Department of Defense announced today (Wednesday) the approval of a huge deal between the airline and space Boeing and Saudi Arabia, in which the US company will improve Riyadh's F-15 aircraft fleet.
According to the Ministry of Defense, the deal will include the modernization, maintenance and installation of new technological systems in the Saudi Air Force's old fighter jets.
The modernization process will include upgrading the weapon systems, software and interface of the multi-purpose fighter jets and adapting them to the military challenges of the next decade.
The program will run for five years and is worth over ten billion dollars.
The deal will allow for an extension of the period of improvement and maintenance of the aircraft for another five years.
Saudi Arabia has purchased 198 F-15s from the United States, including 36 Strike Eagles, which have a longer flight range.
At least two of the planes were shot down during Saudi Arabia's war in the Yemeni civil war.
The Saudi Air Force is one of the largest in the Middle East and owns Tornado aircraft made in Germany and Britain and British Typhoon aircraft.
Improving F-15s will enable Saudi Arabia to face the growing threat posed by Iranian air defense systems.
The huge deal with Saudi Arabia comes less than a day after the US Department of Defense announced to Congress the approval of an arms deal with the UAE, in which 50 elusive F-35s will be delivered to Abu Dhabi alongside armed UAVs and guided missiles.