US approves USD31.2 billion of fighter sales to the Middle East | IHS Jane's 360

If finally fulfilled, both of these sales will provide a welcome boon to Boeing as it looks to maintain the production lines of both the Super Hornet and the Eagle at its St Louis facility in Missouri. In the face of dwindling domestic orders and no international orders for the Super Hornet, Boeing was planning to shut that line down in mid-2018 (with some scope for extension resulting from US Navy fatigue replacement orders). With dwindling international orders and no domestic orders for the Eagle, that line was due to close in 2019 following the conclusion of the current Saudi order.

The future of both lines now looks to be somewhat more secure following this approval and the expected sign-off by Congress.