US State Dept approves $24.3 billion sale of 48 F-35 jets to Saudi Arabia

[Pakistanithinktank]

Chinese would have offered them much better deal and deliver the goods within 5 years.

 

[Samurai]

We can build 25 modern hospitals in Pakistan.

Which will never going to happen, even if we some how get 25 billion $ and it will eventually end up in peoples pockets.

 

[lightning f57]

This deal has a way to go before it becomes reality.

Trumps admin is not reliable but lets say they fully support this like they did the UAE $20bn F35 deal, Biden blocked it.

Dems will likely take power in next presidential election, leader likely anti Israel but may not be so warm with SA too. This deal could get blocked then.

 

[Watandar]

 

[Oldenwisdom...قول بزرگ]

Chinese would have offered them much better deal and deliver the goods within 5 years.

Does it matter?

This is cost of protection racket and nothing else...
It also underscores the pitfalls of an alliance with Saudis with US gear. None of this equipment and others purchased previously are accessible to both Turkiye and Pakistan... Pakistan more so... because it uses competing technologies.
Second, imagine what Pakistan could have delivered for half as much in critical infrastructure, R&D, manufacture and deployment... things that can actually make a difference in a war... not white elephants or shiny toys you keep under wraps for fear of loss, damage or technology transfer. These are deeper questions that actually undermine the defense pact... where Saudis are running a proxy war on behalf of the empire and US is actively refusing participation... because Yemen delivers a strategic trap more profound than the solution available to undo it, that is not only effective in both cost and lives.
What is there indeed that prevents Saudis from making good with Houthis... while they actively have a roadmap for peace with zion... a roadmap to Palestinian state and Abraham Accords. They certainly don't need the F 35s against Yemen... and are already slated to be a defunct technology for more effective solutions in both cost and efficacy. Look at what Turkiye has managed without Saudi resources in loyal wingman... kizilelma and beyond.

 

[Watandar]

I am seeing posts about Saudi paying $500 million per plane which is like 400% over the cost. Why is that ? Even with customizations for Saudi, the plane will not cost THAT much. Are bribes to Trump to launch a renewed military operation against Yemen and Iran the reason for the inflated cost of these F-35's ?

 

[UKBengali]

500 million US dollar a plane is simply protection money, even with training and weapons package included.

 

[UKBengali]

Chinese would have offered them much better deal and deliver the goods within 5 years.

J-35 would be a much better fighter due to higher service ceiling, superior stealth and also better manoeuvrability.

It would also have the massive advantage of being able to engage Zionist F-35s that the US supplied F-35s would never be able to to.