Center for analysis of world arms trade, 12th of March. BAE Systems on March 9 announced the signing of a memorandum of intent by representatives of the governments of the United Kingdom and Saudi Arabia, providing for negotiations on the purchase of 48 Typhoon fighters. According to Jane’s Defense Weekly, the document was signed by Crown Prince of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud and British Defense Minister Gavin Williamson during a meeting in London.
Information on the possibility of Saudi Arabia’s purchase of 48 additional Typhoon aircraft appeared several years ago, but Riyadh’s involvement in the conflict in Yemen complicated the receipt of a permit for sale. At the current time, the sale price and delivery time are not known. As reported by the Center for analysis of world arms trade, Saudi Arabia and the United Kingdom on September, 11, 2007, concluded within the framework of the “Salam” project an intergovernmental agreement worth 4.43 billion pounds ($ 8.9 billion) for the supply of 72 Typhoon versions of Trench.2, as well as the transfer of technology production, investment in the defense industry of the kingdom and training of personnel. Initially, it was assumed that the first 24 aircraft would be assembled at BAE Systems in Wharton and the remaining 24 at the facilities of Alsalam Aircraft Company, which is a joint venture between Boeing, Saudi Arabian Airlines and SAIC (Saudi Advanced Airlines). Due to various problems in 2012 it was decided that all 72 aircraft will be produced in the UK, and Saudi Arabia will be transferred the technology of their service. During the 2009-2011 biennium, Saudi Arabian Air Force received the first 24 “Typhoon”. At the end of March 2012, BAE Systems and the Saudi Arabian military agency reached an agreement and assembled the remaining 48 EF-2000 “Typhoon” aircraft at an enterprise in Wharton, United Kingdom. Negotiations to change contractual obligations led to an 18-month delay in deliveries, which were resumed only in February 2013. Due to the need to amend the contract due to the increase in its cost due to the finalization of the last 24 aircraft to the modification of Trench.3, the final terms of delivery were agreed only in 2014. The delivery of all 72 aircraft was completed in June 2017. The first batch of the “Typhoon” fighter aircraft that were transferred to the Saudi Air Force included 12 single and two-seat aircraft, and six training vehicles for the second and third batches. Thus, the Air Force of Saudi Arabia received 24 double and 48 single fighters. The total cost of the project is estimated at 20 billion pounds (41 billion dollars at the time of signing). The aircraft are part of the 3rd, 10th and 80th Squadrons of the Air Force of Saudi Arabia, deployed on the a / b “Taif” (in the south-west of the country). It is known about the loss of one aircraft during the operation in Yemen on September 14, 2017. Taking into account the memorandum and the letter of intent signed recently by Qatar, contracts have been concluded or official arrangements have been reached to supply 819 “Typhoon” fighters to the Air Force of Germany, Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom, Austria, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and Saudi Arabia. As of December 31, 2017, 531 aircraft were delivered to customers.
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