U.S. President Barack Obama confirmed on Thursday the sale of new F-15SA combat planes to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for some $30 billion.

The sale of 84 new fighter jets, according to White House officials, is part of the broader arms deal with the Saudi government, which calls for the delivery of other aircraft and weaponry over the next decade, fetching for U.S. weapon manufacturers some $60 billion worth of contracts.

The deal, media reports said, will upgrade the Middle East nation's military capability as America gradually sends new helicopters, missiles and radar warning systems to its Saudi ally, which U.S. officials said was already approved by the U.S. Congress.

Analysts view the weapons upgrade as Saudi Arabia's way of containing the emerging power of Iran in the Gulf region. Iran raised tension last week by warning that further sanctions imposed by the West may lead it to block in the vital Strait of Hormuz.

Almost immediately, America responded that such act would merit military response coming from U.S. forces stationed in the region.

In announcing the official confirmation of the combat plane deal, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Andrew Shapiro stressed that "Saudi Arabia's ability to deter and defend against external threats to its sovereignty" will be enhanced.

"This sale will send a strong message to countries in the region that the United States is committed to stability in the Gulf and broader Middle East," Shapiro added as reported by the Associated Press.

The new fighter jets will be manufactured for Saudi Arabia by the U.S. firm Boeing Co., White House officials said, which would deliver further annual economic benefits of up to $3.5 billion to the U.S. economy.

The whole phase of the production, officials said, will create some 50,000 new employment opportunities.

White House officials also assured that Saudi Arabia's military, already the mightiest and the richest in Persian Gulf, will not affect the balance of power in the region and further escalate tensions in the region.