UK Ministry of Defence, The Government of Saudi Arabia has reached agreement with the UK Government to purchase 72 Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft.
The agreement follows plans outlined in December 2005 to establish a greater partnership in modernising the Saudi Arabian Armed Forces.
This new defence cooperation programme, known as Project Salam, builds on a long and successful relationship between the UK and Saudi Arabian Governments and their armed forces. The Governments share key objectives on national security and actions to combat global terrorism. Saudi Arabia continues as an important strategic ally for the United Kingdom in the Middle East, playing a moderating leadership role in promoting regional stability.
This agreement will be supported by substantial logistical and training packages, including the opportunity for RAF and Royal Saudi Air Force aircrews and ground technicians to train alongside each other in the UK.
This decision begins a new chapter in defence co-operation between the nations, and reflects the Saudi Arabian Government’s continued confidence in the United Kingdom to provide the military capability needed to meet its defence requirements. The agreement will also support thousands of jobs in both the UK and Saudi Arabia to manufacture and support these aircraft.
The current agreement goes back to 1985 when the Governments of Saudi Arabia and the UK signed a formal understanding for the supply of Tornado IDS, Tornado ADV, Hawk and PC-9 aircraft, together with associated support services, equipment, weapons, ammunition and electronic warfare systems.
The two governments signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in 1986 elaborating the arrangements put in place the previous year, which also formalised the role of British Aerospace (BAe) (as it was called at the time) as the main contractor for the whole programme, and established a UK Ministry of Defence Project Office within the Defence Export Services Organisation (DESO) to coordinate the activities of the UK MOD in support of the programme, and to monitor the contracted activities of BAe.
In 2005 the then Secretary of State for Defence, Dr John Reid, signed an Understanding Document which was intended to establish a greater partnership in modernising the Saudi Arabian Armed Forces and develop close service-to-service contacts, especially through joint training and exercises.
Under the terms of the document it was agreed that Typhoon aircraft would replace Tornado ADV aircraft and others currently in service with the Royal Saudi Air Force. BAE Systems would also invest in local Saudi companies, develop an industrial technology plan, and provide suitable training for thousands of Saudi nationals providing through life support for key in-service equipments.
Negotiations on the details of the sale of the 72 aircraft, the initial provisioning package, aircrew & technician training in the UK, spares reprovisioning, ground support equipment, technical publications, technical support and contractor manpower support have continued and this agreement on aircraft acquisition marks the start of Project Salam.
As per the 1986 MOU the UK MOD will continue for Project Salam to ensure that all equipment, spares, training and technical work supplied by the main contractor (BAE Systems) are in accordance with Saudi requirements.
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