WARNER ROBINS -- Robins Air Force Base announced Friday a record foreign military sales deal with Boeing.

The $3.7 billion contract will convert 70 existing Royal Saudi Air Force Base F-15S fighter jets to the new F-15SA configuration. The update would give the planes the latest technology.

“The team has overcome obstacles on a short timeline, doing enormous resource planning with industry and the RSAF,” Lt. Col. Jay Schatz, deputy security assistant program manager, said in a release. “It is a program with international scope and national importance. We’re very proud to be leading this effort from Robins.”

The release stated the deal was the largest foreign military sales contract ever done at Robins.

It is part of a $29.4 billion deal announced in January that will also sell the Saudi’s 84 new F-15SAs. The deal is expected to mean 85 new jobs at Robins for management of the program.

The Saudi sale was a record deal and some saw it as a move to achieve a balance of power in the region where Iran has been seen as an increasing threat. It is part of a $60 billion package of military sales to Saudi Arabia approved by Congress.

The White House estimated the sale will support 50,000 U.S. jobs. F-15s are built by Boeing in St. Louis.

To contact writer Wayne Crenshaw, call 256-9725.