The first Typhoon jets for Kuwait have landed in the country.
These are the first two Typhoons in the framework of a wider order for a total of 28 aircraft that will be delivered to the Kuwait Air Force.
According to Leonardo in a news release:
“The Eurofighter Typhoon for the Kuwait Air Force feature a wide range of operational capabilities, built by Leonardo according to the specific requirements of the Kuwaiti Air Force. Leonardo represents with its activities about 36% of the value of the entire programme, with its key role in the aeronautical components and the on-board electronics.
Leonardo also plays a key role in the evolution of the Eurofighter thanks to the new AESA (Active Electronically Scanned Array) radar that equips the Eurofighter Typhoons for Kuwait, which increases the aircraft’s performance and competitiveness.”
Alessandro Profumo, Chief Executive Officer of Leonardo, said:
“The Eurofighter Typhoons we have developed and produced for the Kuwait Air Force are the most advanced in the whole history of the European programme. We will provide the country with an impressive air defence capability.
In cooperation with the Italian Air Force we trained their pilots in our training centres in Italy, we built state-of-the-art infrastructures to support and maintain a fleet of 28 aircraft. The milestones we are celebrating today is the result of the effective cooperation between the two countries, where Institutions, Armed Forces and Industry have worked together in synergy.”
In addition, together with Leonardo Test Pilots, some instructors from the Italian Air Force will support the initial training of Kuwaiti pilots and the OCU (Operational Conversion Unit) growth at Al Salem base.
In addition to the four partner countries, which have already ordered 510 Typhoons, international customers now include Saudi Arabia (72 aircraft), Austria (15), Oman (12), Kuwait (28) and Qatar (24), a total of 661 ordered aircraft.
In terms of workforce, the Eurofighter programme involves more than 100,000 people in Europe.
Congrats on acquiring a great combat plane, I really look forward to watching your pilots over the Morecambe Bay and learning to fly beneath Gummers How, up Lake Windermere towards Spadeadam!
It has been awesome viewing including Slovak Mig 29s!
The Italians are the lead for this order. The Kuwaitis will be trained in Italy. They aren’t big fans of the UK.
Why?
We sold them Lightnings. 😬
They were when we were liberating them
That’s part of the answer. When you add 1961 as well you get the other part. Helping/Saving someone once may be tolerable twice is unforgivable.
Just like the French then!
Exactly like the French!
LOL.
What the chances nowadays of getting another export win?
Very funny!
An ‘independent’ Scotland would almost certainly expect the rest of The UK to protect its airspace in the way EIRE does.
You mean Ireland of course ….
The T26 frigate has done well so far.
Xmas greetings all. Does anyone have an update on the second Typhoon tranche order for Saudi Arabia? Is this still going ahead or is it cancelled?
Austria desperate to off load their Euro Fighters.
Great to see this, how much this cost and how much economical compared to F35 series?