BAE Systems and Qatar have agreed a contract for 24 Typhoon jets.
The contract, valued at approximately £5bn, is for the supply of Typhoon aircraft to the Qatar Emiri Air Force along with a bespoke support and training package.
BAE say that the contract is subject to financing conditions and receipt of the first payment, which is expected to be fulfilled no later than mid-2018.
The contract provides for 24 Typhoon aircraft with delivery expected to commence in late 2022.
BAE Systems is the prime contractor for both the provision of the aircraft and the agreed arrangements for the in-service support and initial training.
Charles Woodburn, BAE Systems Chief Executive said:
“We are delighted to begin a new chapter in the development of a long-term relationship with the State of Qatar and the Qatar Armed Forces, and we look forward to working alongside our customer as they continue to develop their military capability.
This agreement is a strong endorsement of Typhoon’s leading capabilities and underlines BAE Systems’ long track record of working in successful partnership with our customers.”
With 623 aircraft ordered, Eurofighter Typhoon is currently the largest military procurement programme in Europe say BAE.
Recently it was claimed that Typhoon has ‘proven its swing role capabilities’ during Operation Shader, according to Air Vice Marshal Gerry Mayhew at a media briefing at the Dubai Air Show 2017.
Mayhew said that Typhoon’s role had matured over two years of operations over Syria and Iraq as part of the coalition offensive against DAESH.
“Throughout that time Typhoon has evolved from simply a kinetic operation to a swing role, with the aircraft working effectively alongside many coalition partners. The aircraft is armed air-to-air and air-to-ground every time we leave the ground.
We have built up a great deal of experience in Typhoon working swing role and working with many other different types of aircraft where we are able to datalink – using the links for both kinetic and air-to-air operations.Â
All the five UK RAF squadrons have cycled through Operation SHADER and we are now into a second rotation of the squadrons.”
Good news for UK plc , I think this contract also includes an order for 6 Hawk trainers.
Well done BAE. Nice xmas present. A new years order from KSA would be really good.
I see they ordered another 12 rafale from france taking that order to 36.
Im still shocked they are able to compete on price given their development costs where spread across less than half the number of typhoons produced.
Now the F35 is under cutting both planes and trump is pushing the sales i dont see either jets making many more big sales.
BB85 – Tell that to Canada who are ‘not highly amused’ with Boeing and the US Government. They have already stopped negotiating for interim F-18 Hornets and from what I can see are looking East rather than South with Canadian integrators and major suppliers looking to work with the UK (Type 26) Even that gentleman of gentlemen Michael Fallon made his point to Boeing over the Bombardier Tariffs and Trudeau was very complimentary about how Theresa May went into bat with him against Trump when they all met in the USA. Canada has always preferred twin engined swing role aircraft… Read more »
I’m convinced the French are happy to subsidise their exports to maintain their industry and will therefore undercut the Typhoon and T26. I don’t believe Egypt is paying full price for its Rafale and Corvettes, it wouldn’t surprise me if France was paying 50% of the total costs.
To some extent I don’t necessarily disagree with this approach. Get the direct subsidies right and the benefits to the wider economy, economic base and intellectual property would more than offset a few extra billion here or there. The problem is- how do you quantify these wider benefits and I think therein lies our problem. The continentals are very much principle orientated, we are more evidence based. They derive they’re opinions on the basis of reason from theory. We base ours in experience. Both have their pros and cons. My problem with our approach is that some things just can’t… Read more »
So how much longer will this keep the production line going, or are they already planned production diverted from one of the major partners cutting their order ?
The RAF wants more typhoons, why not they are great jets.
It would be great if this order can keep the Eurofighter production line open for a few more years.
The F35B needs to be ordered so we have more than 96 aircraft in active RAF/FAA service but other than that I would love to see a further 24-48 Eurofighters ordered for the RAF. I am worried about the lack of numbers in RAF order of battle. 5 squadrons of Eurofighters is not really enough to provide squadron sized deployments and attritional loses, servicing and training.
Great plane Mr Bell, but we need to get all the frames we have into service (tranche 1 as QRA with updated AESA radars) and then that is it, fleet sustainment only. We need to increase the purchase rate of the F35B and also start the process of it (and Typhoons) replacement, which I think will be a sixth gen fighter or UAV. What we cant do is continue ordering Typhoons at the expense of F35B and the future… One of the main issues we all talk about is poor fleet management and buying more of something that will be… Read more »
Hi Pacman, I understand the thrust of your argument, and you make some sound points. However, I would be reluctant to put all our “eggs” into the F-35B basket. Evidence suggests that we will continue to deploy our fast-jets on operations from land-bases – not QE class carriers. (Albeit, I acknowledge what a useful addition big strike carriers will make to UK combat power). The STOVL F-35B gives great flexibility, albeit with some performance limitations – in particular range. I have concerns at ploughing so much national treasure into the B variant, when it can be argued that carrier-strike for… Read more »
The USA will not sell the F35 to Arab nations for at least 10 years as agreed with Israel.
This will help Israel maintain its qualative advantage over any potential adversary in the region.
Very important point
Seconded Ian.
Mike – And in any case after Trump made the disastrous Jerusalem recognition error and the continued massive US funding of Israeli military spending no Muslim state is going to do any business with any US supplier any time soon. Those of us in ‘the West’ should not under estimate the importance that Muslims place on the Al-Aqsa site (or Bayt al-Maqdis). It is the third holiest site in Islam and is located in the Old City of Jerusalem. Which leaves the Qatari order for 36 F-15 jets @ $12 Bn announced just last June in an interesting place. After… Read more »
The media has blown the Jerusalem issue out of all proportion. Saudi and Israel relations have never been as close given their common enemy (which is very strange I know).
If there ever is a settlement West Jerusalem will be part of Palestine so why could both states not share the same capital if the border cuts through both.
True Iran has that affect on a lot of it’s neighbours but the US will not undermine Israel by selling the F35 to Saudi or anyone else in the mid east any time soon.
BB85 – Please do not think this is in any way a ‘media event’. How would Christians react if an Italian Government sequestrated the Vatican? Jerusalem is a very unique city and its religious importance to the three main religions is totally unique. The only peaceful solution is for it to be declared an open city with administration shared by the three religions. There must never ever be any political interference by one side. And you dismiss what Israel is proposing here. They see no ‘line down the middle’ at all. When they say Jerusalem they mean ALL of Jerusalem… Read more »
Wonder how this order confirmation will go down with the Saudi’s?..
Well they havent committed to ordering anymore so what did they expect.
With Qatar being so small it would be interesting to see if they station any on an oversea miltary base.
Due to spares, training and logistics support, most countries opt for a purchase of one type of fast jet – or two that can compliment each other.
Qatar has ordered three roughly similar types (Rafale 36, F-15QA 36, Typhoon 24).
Qatar also has a limited potential fighter pilot pool due to its relatively small population (2.7 million).
It almost appears that the main reason for the purchases is to provide forward deployed squadrons of current fats jets that its allies pilots can simply be flown out to fly in the event of local major conflict.
This latest purchase is most curious given that the Qatari Air Force has only around 1900 members in total. The population is indeed around 2.5 Million depending on the season but there are only actually 350 000-odd Qataris. The rest of the population is made up of migrant workers (of whom I used to be one). Word on the street in Doha is that the air-force will outsource to Pakistan and Jordan for pilots but the aim is to operate the new acquisitions in proper active squadrons – just not operated by Qataris!
Ooops… typo alert should have read “…fast jets…” not fats jets!!
Oh dear, now I need to find where I parked in the par cark… 🙂
I agree with many comments on here British armament sales will be increased because of Trump in the White House. There is a reasonable chance type 26 will be ordered by Canada and Australia The type 26 or 31 could even be in with a shout for the USNavy fxxg Atlantic escort project ( 28-32 frigates needed by 2035). I think as F35 is not available to middle Eastern and some Asian customers there is a chance Eurofighter could steal some orders. Ditto Nato partner nations in Eastern Europe. It would give the industry a shot in the arm and… Read more »