AEROSPACE AND DEFENSE

Saudis May Give McDonnell a Boost: Saudi Arabia wants to buy 72 McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle jets, stars of the Gulf War, in a deal that could be worth $4 billion and save 7,000 jobs. If approved by the U.S. government, the tentative deal, announced at the Dubai Air Show in the United Arab Emirates, could extend production of the F-15 by two years--until 1995. The nation’s largest defense contractor has faced severe financial pressure as U.S. spending on weapons systems has fallen amid declining East-West tensions. Since last year, the company has laid off about 20% of its work force, which now numbers 42,000.