Israel rattled by Saudi jets deal

ADVANCED WEAPONRY: Israel has voiced concerns over the proposed US sale of F-35 Lightning II jets to Saudi Arabia. (Lockheed Martin)

Israel has voiced concerns over the likely US sale of stealth-enabled fighter jets to Saudi Arabia, but is planning to boost its own forces with new technology not available to the gulf kingdom, it was reported on Monday.

The country is currently finalising a shopping list for a number of military platforms currently not available outside the US, in a bid to retain its edge in the region, defence officials told the Jerusalem Post, following recent meetings in Washington.

Israeli officials met with Pentagon staff in June to object to a proposed US sale of advanced weaponry to Saudi, however its concerns have since increased following reports that the kingdom was also to ask for F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter jets currently under development by Lockheed Martin, the newspaper said.

“The Saudis want the plane," it reported a senior official as saying. "They always look for top-of-the-line technology, and the Americans will have difficulty saying no."

Israel is understood to be interested in acquiring the F-22 Raptor jet, one of the world’s most advanced fighter jets which can avoid radar detection. Foreign sales are currently banned by Congress because of alleged attempts by Iran to obtain nuclear weapons.

According to the Jerusalem Post, officials say they also want advanced models of Boeing’s Joint Direct Attack Munition smart bombs (JDAMS), to counter Saudi acquisitions of the standard model.

Israel has also discussed the possibility of integrating its own defence industries into the production of the Joint Strike Fighter, the newspaper reported. The country paid $20 million in 2003 for information accumulated during the development of the jet, which will be priced between $50-60 million.

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READERS' COMMENTS

Scaring Israel
Posted by Chinkiz Khan, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan on Sunday 20 April 2008 at 13:06 UAE time

This is pathetic....that you insinuate that the Israelis are scared of Saudi Arabia....this rattling has been ordered by the officials to make the Saudis look like heroes and the biggest bribe in the history of mankind is covered up.
You are doing a good job by spreading such news.

The race is on
Posted by langyaw, Dubai, UAE on Tuesday 15 April 2008 at 10:47 UAE time

The arms race is on and the Middle East theater actors are positioning themselves to be at the bleeding edge of death technology (pun intended). A drastic change of mindset is needed among ME leaders, that instead of preparing to kill each other, they should FEED each other. but then, again, who can stop this vicious cycle?
Well, as usual, only the world's death merchant will benefit from all this. :(

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