The U.S. State Department has approved a possible $10.1 billion foreign military sale of 40 F/A-18 aircraft to the government of Kuwait.

The potential purchase includes 32 F/A-18E fighters and 8 F/A-18F aircraft. If Congress approves the whole package, Kuwait will also receive spare engines and modules, 41 AN/APG-79 Active Electronically Scanned Array radars, 44 M61A2 20mm gun systems, and other supporting equipment.

In a statement announcing the State Department's approval, the U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency adds Kuwaiti military personnel will also have access to engineering and program support as well as U.S. government and contractor engineering services.

The agency said the potential sale will bolster defensive capabilities for a major non-NATO ally, adding this will lead to political and economic progress in the region.

The Boeing-made F/A-18 Hornet attack aircraft was the first strike fighter designed for the United States Armed Forces. The craft was built for both traditional strike operations in addition to close air support. If the foreign military sale to the government of Kuwait is approved, the country will use the aircraft for homeland defense in addition to replacing aging aircraft.

Prime contractors for the sale include Boeing, Northrop Grumman, Raytheon, and General Electric.

Separetely the State Department has also approved a proposed $21.1 billion foreign military sale to the government of Qatar for 72 F-15QA aircraft.

In addition to the multirole fighters, Qatar will also receive associated weapon packages, ground support, training materials and maintenance equipment. In a statement released by the U.S. Defense Security Cooperation agency, government officials say the sale is intended to bolster foreign policy interests.

The proposed sale is intended to improve Qatar's ability to meet air-to-air and air-to-ground enemy threats and improve homeland defense capabilities.

The U.S. State Department's approval comes just weeks after the British government released a statement upgrading Qatar's terrorism threat from "underlying" to "general".

U.S. officials say the sale will not affect the basic military balance in the Middle East.

Aerospace giant Boeing has been listed as the prime contractor for the sale, with additional support from Elbit Systems, BAE Systems, Lockheed Martin and others.

The Boeing-made F-15 Strike Eagle is a twin-engine fighter designed for multi-role capabilities. Additional customers in the Middle East include the governments of Saudi Arabia and Israel.