72 Typhoons to Saudi-Arabia - confirmed by Saudi MoD

duotiga83 SG

Saudi signs $11bn deal to buy 72 Typhoon jets
Posted: Friday, August 18, 2006

Riyadh

Saudi Arabia and Britain signed an agreement on Thursday for the Gulf kingdoms purchase of 72 Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft in a deal analysts have said could be worth more than 6 billion pounds ($11.4 billion).

A Saudi Defence Ministry statement, carried by the official SPA news agency, said 'the agreement was signed ... for the purchase of 72 Typhoon aircraft.'

The brief statement, which did not give the value of the deal, said it also included a defence technology transfer.

Sources close to the negotiations had said a deal signed in December was believed to have an option of up to 72 aircraft.

The purchase is being carried out to replace British-made Tornados and other jets with the Typhoons.

The multinational Eurofighter consortium that makes Typhoon jets includes British defence contractor BAE Systems, European aerospace group EADS and Italy's Finmeccanica.

BAE is expected to invest in local training for thousands of Saudi nationals. Saudi Arabia has a long history of buying arms from Britain dating back to the 1960s, and usually pays in oil.

Meanwhile, a Financial Times report said the deal could be worth 10 billion pounds ($18.8 billion) and could more than double in value over the next 25 years if BAE Systems, Britain's biggest defence manufacturer, maintains and upgrades the jets.

The Eurofighters themselves will cost 5.4 billion pounds, with an extra five billion pounds for on-board missiles, various other parts, and initial support.

BAE might handle the maintenance and upgrading of the fighter jets, but the newspaper reported that Saudi Arabia is keen for local companies to do the work.

The Saudi Finance Ministry is authorising the initial payment on the agreement, which could come as early as next week. Upon receiving the payment, BAE would have to make an announcement to the London Stock Exchange.

http://www.tradearabia.com/tanews/newsdetails_snDEF_article109788_cnt.html

Don© SG

Oil is black gold Very Happy

beavan SG

i wonder whether do they have the expert pilots trained in their own homeland to use the planes.

or do they have to import those as well?

tankee1981 SG

The Saudis already own more than 1015 Tanks including 315 high quality M1A2s, over 5000+ APCs/AFVs, 780 artillery pieces, over 2000 anti-tank missile launchers, over 340 high quality combat aircrafts including F15S/C/Ds and Tornados, with 48 Typhoons (Eurofighter) to be delivered in 2008. On top of this they own over 228 helicopters, 160 training and liaison aircrafts and 51 transport aircrafts. Saudi navy operates over 27 major combat vessels including missile frigates and missile corvettes

http://www.iranian.ws/iran_news/publish/article_16524.shtml

Saudi Arabia have all the expensive military hardware comparable to a developed western power. But they are not considered to be a capable fighting force in the middle east. There are rumours that they employ foreigners to man their weapons, an example is the Pakistanis. Not too long ago, Saudi Arabia even thought of buying the Al Khalid from Pakistan. Some are sent over for trials. Obviously, they are rich but they seem to be buying without planning before hand.

Pitot SG

Looks like they dont intend to get the JSF for the time being...

Gives Israel a chance to argue their right to purchase the F22.

Seth35 SG

Euro Fighters… Nice lookin aircraft…I like how the way they design the plane…

MobyDog SG

I think with the raise of Oil prices.. The saudi is simply off-setting their balance of foreign exchange tp applease europe.. err Euro..

if nothing else, they also spending on defense..