Typhoons for Saudi Arabia?

Date Posted: 11-Jun-2004

JANE’S DEFENCE WEEKLY – JUNE 16, 2004

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Typhoon manoeuvres over Saudi Arabia
Jon Lake JDW Special Correspondent
Oxford, UK

Gen Saleh Bin Ali al-Muhaya, Saudi Arabian Chief of Air Staff visited BAE Systems’ Warton Aerodrome in northwestern England for extensive briefings on the Eurofighter Typhoon, including a flight in the aircraft, on 28 May, according to industry sources.

Some sources close to the Typhoon programme suggest that an initial Royal Saudi Air Force order for 24 aircraft is now “imminent” and contract signature is being held back for the forthcoming SBAC Farnborough International 2004 air show in July.

Saudi Arabia has always been seen as a potential customer for the Typhoon because of its massive investment in the Tornado programme through the £20 billion ($36.7 billion) Al Yamamah arms deal. There have been frequent reports since 2002 that BAE Systems has proposed the sale of 50 Typhoons, with options on 50 more, in a £1.5 billion deal.

In May 2004, the Deutsche Bank made a ‘buy’ recommendation for BAE shares on the basis that, with crude oil prices above $40 a barrel, Saudi Arabia could now afford to upgrade its Tornados. Many also took this as a sign that a Typhoon purchase could also be under consideration.

Meanwhile, the Turkish media has focused recently on the possibility of a Typhoon purchase as a ‘gap-filler’ pending the delivery of Turkey’s F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. Turkey has an urgent need for a modern fighter because of its ageing fleet of upgraded F-4E Phantoms and attrition-depleted fleet of early-model F-16s. Additionally, the country’s aspirations to become a full member of the EU would make a Typhoon purchase politically attractive.

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