Senior U.S. officials said that the cost of the aircraft earmarked for Israel, Egypt and Saudi Arabia announced today by Secretary of State Cyrus Vance will be $4.8 billion. The price tag on the 15 F-15 planes for Israel is $400 million and the 75 F-16 fighters was put at $1.5 billion.
The 60 F-15s for Saudi Arabia will cost $2.5 billion and the 50 F-5s for Egypt $400 million. The officials explained the higher cost for F-15s for Saudi Arabia because the Saudis are getting the planes for the first time and the cost basis is thus higher.
The officials said that Egypt will get 10 of its fighters in the third quarter of this year, Saudi Arabia and Israel will receive their F-15s in the third quarter of 1981 and Israel will receive the F-16s in the last quarter of 1981. The Israelis now have about half of the 25 F-15s they had previously ordered and will have received all 25 by the end of this year.
The officials explained that Egypt requires the warplanes because Libya has Soviet MIG-23s and Egypt cannot get spare parts from the Soviet Union for the Soviet aircraft it now has.
In addition to the reasons publicly stated by Vance on why Saudi Arabia should receive the highly-sophisticated F-15s, the officials pointed out that the oil-rich desert kingdom faces a substantial threat from Iraq which is increasing its armaments more than any other country in the Mideast. Iraq receives arms from the Soviet Union. In addition, Iraq has a formidable army, they said.
PROHIBITION ON TRAINING
When a reporter noted that Egyptians had trained in American aircraft held by the Saudis in the past, the officials acknowledged that the Egyptians did train on Saudi F-5s but at a time when this was not prohibited by the United States. The U.S. expressed its concern, the officials said, and Saudi Arabia ceased the training practice. This prohibition, they said, will apply to the F-15s. The Saudis will train in the U.S. prior to the delivery.
The officials were asked whether Israel will now be permitted to join the U.S. in the co-production of the F-16. They said the decision has not been made on this and further discussion will be held with Israeli Defense Minister Ezer Weizman when he comes to Washington next month.
The officials said that this is the program on aircraft for these three countries for this year. But this is not a freeze on other military hardware for them. They expressed the hope that the Congress will deal with the three requests as a package.
When they were asked about the statement by Israeli Premier Menachem Begin that delivery of U.S. warplanes to Egypt would have a negative effect on peace prospects, the officials said this was taken into account and the decision was made that the sales would not alter the military balance nor detract from the peace process, but enhance prospects. Asked if the U.S. sought a commitment from Egypt not to use the aircraft against Israel, the officials noted that Egyptian President Anwar Sadat has said he has renounced further war with Israel.
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