Eurofighter sale to Saudi Arabia agreed
The government agreed today to supply Saudi Arabia with the new Eurofighter in the first contract for the jet fighter outside Europe.
The UK and Saudi Arabia signed an “understanding document” to modernise the Saudi Arabian Armed Forces that will see the Eurofighter Typhoon replace the Tornado.
The Ministry of Defence said the partnership recognised actions by both governments to “combat global terrorism” and would safeguard thousands of jobs over the next 10 years in the UK, where BAE Systems builds the Eurofighter.
Shares in BAE lifted more than 6% earlier today as rumours of an order from Saudi Arabia of 48 Eurofighters swept the markets.
The jet was developed by a consortium of companies in the UK, Germany, Spain and Italy and is competing against two rival projects, the US-made Joint Strike Fighter and the French Rafael.
Both BAE and the MoD said details of how many Eurofighters would be sold to Saudi Arabia were confidential, but industry sources said they were “very pleased”.
Source: Guardian Unlimited.
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