US to offer advanced aircraft to Saudi Arabia

With submission of its notification to Congress expected in the next week or so, the administration will authorise the Saudis to buy as many as 84 new F-15 fighters, upgrade 70 more, and purchase three types of helicopters -- 70 Apaches, 72 Black Hawks and 36 Little Birds, the paper noted, citing unnamed officials.

The administration sees the sale of advanced fighter jets and military helicopters to key Middle Eastern ally Riyadh as part of a broader policy aimed at shoring up Arab allies against Iran, the report said.

The US$60bn in fighter jets and helicopters is the top-line amount requested by the Saudis, even though the Kingdom is likely to commit initially to buying only about half that amount, the paper said.

The report said that talks between the US and Saudi Arabia have been widely known for months, but many new details are only now coming into focus.

The Journal also said the notification will set off a congressional review and that lawmakers could push for changes, try to impose conditions or block the deal altogether, though that is not expected.