Monday August 09, 2010 17:32 by Brian Ennis - IMEMC & Agencies

The US has agreed to sell Saudi Arabia fighter jets but without critical equipment over Israeli concerns of long-term Saudi intentions.

As the US was set to sell Saudi Arabia many new F-15 fighter jets, the country found itself renegotiating the terms of the deal due to Israeli questions of the deal.

According to a Haaretz source, Israel had been trying to prevent the sale of fighter jets to Saudi Arabia where were to upgrade a large number of jets already in service.

Twice Israel made its concerns with the sale apparent to the US leadership.

The US maintains that no changes in the deal were made rather, 'clarifications' were offered to the Israeli leadership.

The planes being sold to Saudi Arabia will not have long-range weapons capabilities or onboard targeting systems equal to those of the United States but rather inferior ones sold to foreign nations.

US to emasculate Saudi F-15s for Israel

Press TV, Wed, 11 Aug 2010 02:26:47 GMT

Acknowledging Israeli concerns, the United States is reportedly to reduce the combat capabilities of the warplanes it is to sell Saudi Arabia.

Israeli officials had voiced unease with the proportions of the arms deal which sees the sale of about 84 F-15 aircraft to the Kingdom, prominent American paper The Wall Street Journal reported on Monday.

Security sources in Israel had warned that equipped with the fighters, the Saudis "might turn against us," the Israeli daily, Ha'aretz had said.

Accordingly and in line with Washington's age-old policy of adjusting its actions with Tel Aviv, the planes are to lose some of their combat-readiness, including advanced long-range weapons systems. They are as well to be fitted with comparably poorer onboard targeting systems.

Also, the US Congress has decided to block some $100 million in aid to Lebanon's military at a time when Beirut has launched a campaign to prepare its armed forces with requisite hardware against potential Israeli threats.

Meanwhile Israel is to purchase the far more capable F-35, which it could receive from the US as early as 2015, around the same time the Saudis would begin to get new F-15s, the The Wall Street Journal added.

HN/MGH/MMA