Gareth Jennings, London - IHS Jane's Defence
Weekly
12 June 2017
BAE Systems has completed Eurofighter Typhoon
deliveries to Saudi Arabia, with the 72nd and final aircraft being flown to the
Kingdom on 6 June.
Images of single-seat aircraft 8023 and 8024
(UK serials ZK622 and ZK623 respectively) departing BAE Systems' Warton
production facility were posted on Twitter on the same day. BAE Systems
declined to comment to Jane's, citing commercial confidentiality.
Saudi Arabia ordered 72 Tranche 2 Typhoon
aircraft in 2007. At an estimated GBP20 billion (USD41 billion at the time), it
was one of the largest defence procurement contracts ever signed.
Under the original plan, the first 24
aircraft were to be built by BAE Systems in the UK, with the remainder to be
assembled in-country at the Alsalam Aircraft Company (a joint venture between
Boeing, Saudi Arabian Airways, and Saudi Advanced Industries Company). However,
this plan was scuppered by issues surrounding the safeguarding of proprietary
information at the part-Boeing-owned plant, and the abandonment of a planned
new facility at Taif. In 2013 it was instead decided that all 72 aircraft would
be built in the UK, with Saudi Arabia focusing its attentions on delivering
in-country through-life support to the fleet.
Deliveries began in 2009, with aircraft being
handed over to the Kingdom in three batches. Batch 1 covered the initial 24
aircraft, including 12 twin-seaters; Batch 2 was for 24 more aircraft,
including six twin-seaters; with Batch 3 made up of the final 24 aircraft,
including another six twin-seaters.
Source: HERE
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