GengisKhant
21st Apr 2006, 10:36
Saudi Arabia’s decision to choose the Eurofighter Typhoon as the backbone of its future defence needs is set to deal a fatal blow to Frances hopes of securing a rival deal for its own Rafale combat aircraft, reports the Times.
With details of the multi-million-pound defence package being finalised between Saudi officials and BAE Systems for the delivery of up to 72 Typhoons over the coming decade, hopes are fading for Dassault, the French manufacturer of the Rafale, in its bid to provide 48 warplanes to the Saudis with an option of another 48 aircraft.
Over the past few months, rival defence contractors, diplomats and Cabinet ministers -and even Tony Blair and President Chirac - have been engaged in a furious battle behind the scenes to secure the Saudi defence contract for its next generation of fighters.
Eurofighter, a joint four- nation project, had the advantage of lobbying from Britain, Germany, Italy and Spain. In addition, BAE Systems had 20 years of close co-operation with the Royal Saudi Air Force after the purchase of Tornado and other aircraft under the al-Yamamah project secured by Margaret Thatcher.
If the Typhoon deal is finalised, it will be a huge personal blow to M Chirac, who has invested his credibility in securing the Rafale contract with the Saudis. The first sign that the French were losing the race came in March, when the French leader visited Riyadh but failed to sign a memorandum of understanding with the Saudis for the aircraft. Britain and Saudi Arabia had signed a memorandum in December.
Nevertheless, it is possible that the Saudis, flush with a mighty petro-dollar windfall, will still buy some French war-planes or will compensate Paris by purchasing other defence equipment from their lengthy military shopping list.
The Saudis are planning to spend billions upgrading defences of their long and vulnerable borders with Iraq and other unstable neighbours. They also want to protect their oil facilities, which came under attack last month from al-Qaeda suicide bombers, and create a new airborne helicopter regiment for the Armed Forces.
The agreement to replace British-made Tornados and other jets in the Saudi Air Force with Eurofighter Typhoons was seen as a significant break-through for the Eurofighter, which so far has been sold only to the air forces of the home manufacturing countries and Austria. The huge order is seen as confirmation that the jet can sell around the world. The contract also safeguards jobs at BAE Systems.
GengisK :ok:
With details of the multi-million-pound defence package being finalised between Saudi officials and BAE Systems for the delivery of up to 72 Typhoons over the coming decade, hopes are fading for Dassault, the French manufacturer of the Rafale, in its bid to provide 48 warplanes to the Saudis with an option of another 48 aircraft.
Over the past few months, rival defence contractors, diplomats and Cabinet ministers -and even Tony Blair and President Chirac - have been engaged in a furious battle behind the scenes to secure the Saudi defence contract for its next generation of fighters.
Eurofighter, a joint four- nation project, had the advantage of lobbying from Britain, Germany, Italy and Spain. In addition, BAE Systems had 20 years of close co-operation with the Royal Saudi Air Force after the purchase of Tornado and other aircraft under the al-Yamamah project secured by Margaret Thatcher.
If the Typhoon deal is finalised, it will be a huge personal blow to M Chirac, who has invested his credibility in securing the Rafale contract with the Saudis. The first sign that the French were losing the race came in March, when the French leader visited Riyadh but failed to sign a memorandum of understanding with the Saudis for the aircraft. Britain and Saudi Arabia had signed a memorandum in December.
Nevertheless, it is possible that the Saudis, flush with a mighty petro-dollar windfall, will still buy some French war-planes or will compensate Paris by purchasing other defence equipment from their lengthy military shopping list.
The Saudis are planning to spend billions upgrading defences of their long and vulnerable borders with Iraq and other unstable neighbours. They also want to protect their oil facilities, which came under attack last month from al-Qaeda suicide bombers, and create a new airborne helicopter regiment for the Armed Forces.
The agreement to replace British-made Tornados and other jets in the Saudi Air Force with Eurofighter Typhoons was seen as a significant break-through for the Eurofighter, which so far has been sold only to the air forces of the home manufacturing countries and Austria. The huge order is seen as confirmation that the jet can sell around the world. The contract also safeguards jobs at BAE Systems.
GengisK :ok: