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DATE=1/30/97
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-209456
TITLE=SAUDI/U-S PLANES (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=DAVID GOLLUST
DATELINE=PENTAGON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:

INTRO: THE UNITED STATES AND SAUDI ARABIA HAVE HELD PRELIMINARY DISCUSSIONS ON A POSSIBLE MULTI-BILLION DOLLAR SAUDI PURCHASE OF F-16 FIGHTER AIRCRAFT. BUT OFFICIALS SAY THERE IS NO FORMAL SALES REQUEST ON THE TABLE. V-O-A'S DAVID GOLLUST HAS DETAILS FROM THE PENTAGON.

TEXT: DEFENSE OFFICIALS SAY THE SAUDIS HAVE MADE INITIAL CONTACTS WITH BOTH THE PENTAGON AND THE LOCKHEED-MARTIN CORPORATION ABOUT BUYING F-16'S. HOWEVER, THEY ARE DOWNPLAYING REPORTS THAT THE TWO SIDES MAY BE CLOSE TO CONCLUDING ONE OF THEIR BIGGEST ARMS DEALS EVER.

THE WASHINGTON TIMES NEWSPAPER REPORTED THURSDAY THAT SAUDI ARABIA HAD AGREED TO BUY 100 OF THE ADVANCED STRIKE AIRCRAFT IN A MULTI-BILLION-DOLLAR DEAL LIKELY TO BE CONCLUDED DURING A WASHINGTON VISIT BY SAUDI DEFENSE MINISTER PRINCE SULTAN NEXT MONTH.

PENTAGON SPOKESMAN KEN BACON SAYS SAUDI ARABIA HAS TOLD THE UNITED STATES IT WOULD LIKE TO REPLACE ITS 1970'S-ERA F-FIVE ATTACK AIRCRAFT WITH NEWER PLANES LIKE THE F-16 -- BUT INSISTED THE DISCUSSIONS HAVE NOT GONE FAR:

/// BACON ACTUALITY ///

THEY HAVE ASKED US SOME TIME AGO FOR PRICING INFORMATION, WHICH WE PROVIDED. THEY'VE ALSO BEEN DISCUSSING THIS WITH CONTRACTORS. WE KNOW THAT. BUT AS I SAY, WE HAVE NO FORMAL REQUEST FROM THEM, AND THEREFORE NO DETAILS ABOUT WHAT THEY'RE THINKING OF NOW.

///END ACT///

A SPOKESMAN FOR LOCKHEED-MARTIN, WHICH BUILDS THE F-16, TERMED THE NEWSPAPER ACCOUNT PREMATURE.

SAUDI ARABIA HAS NEARLY ONE HUNDRED TWIN-ENGINE F-15 FIGHTERS, THE MAINSTAY OF THE U-S AIR FORCE, AND HAS DOZENS MORE ON ORDER.

THE LIGHTER AND MORE MANEUVERABLE F-16'S ARE WIDELY DEPLOYED IN THE REGION, WITH ISRAEL, EGYPT AND TURKEY ALL OPERATING LARGE FLEETS OF THE AIRCRAFT. JORDAN IS ALSO DUE TO ACQUIRE A SQUADRON OF F-16'S UNDER A LEASE ARRANGEMENT WITH THE UNITED STATES NEXT YEAR. (SIGNED)

NEB/DAG/MMK

30-Jan-97 3:35 PM EST (2035 UTC) NNNN

Source: Voice of America .