GengisKhant
10th May 2006, 09:22
BAE Systems, is in the running for an $8.8 billion (£4.7 billion) Saudi Arabian defence contract after Riyadh broke off one-to-one talks with the French group Thales in a fresh setback for France’s embattled President Chirac.
The Saudis have put the contract for border surveillance and protection out to tender after terminating 12 years of exclusive talks with the Gallic defence electronics group.
The move paves the way for BAE Systems, along with Raytheon of the US and Finmeccanica of Italy, to bid to supply 225 air, sea and ground radar installations as well as reconnaissance aircraft, telecommunications equipment and about 20 helicopters.
BAE Systems said: “We are aware of a number of Saudi requirements in this area and are actively bidding for a number of them.” EADS, the European defence and aerospace group — and Airbus’s parent — said its bid was already under way
The contract will run for 12 years and is part of Saudi Arabia’s attempt to upgrade its defence capacity amid instability in the Middle East. The Saudi Border Guard Development Programme is designed to prevent infiltration along the borders with Yemen, Oman, Jordan, Iraq and Kuwait or along its 1,640 miles of coastline.
Chirac hoped to conclude a deal on behalf of Thales when he visited Riyadh in March. But he emerged empty-handed from his visit when he failed even to obtain a meeting with Prince Sultan Bin Abdul Aziz al-Saud, the Defence Minister.
Chirac believed his long relationship with King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz al-Saud, who became ruler of Saudi Arabia and head of the House of Saud after King Fahd’s death last year, would secure the contract.
French Press commentators said the failure underlined France’s waning prestige in the Middle East and Chirac’s personal decline. The newspaper La Tribune accused him of misjudging his influence over the Saudi leadership. French radio said that lobbying by London and Washington had helped to persuade Riyadh to put the contract out to tender.
GengisK :ok:
The Saudis have put the contract for border surveillance and protection out to tender after terminating 12 years of exclusive talks with the Gallic defence electronics group.
The move paves the way for BAE Systems, along with Raytheon of the US and Finmeccanica of Italy, to bid to supply 225 air, sea and ground radar installations as well as reconnaissance aircraft, telecommunications equipment and about 20 helicopters.
BAE Systems said: “We are aware of a number of Saudi requirements in this area and are actively bidding for a number of them.” EADS, the European defence and aerospace group — and Airbus’s parent — said its bid was already under way
The contract will run for 12 years and is part of Saudi Arabia’s attempt to upgrade its defence capacity amid instability in the Middle East. The Saudi Border Guard Development Programme is designed to prevent infiltration along the borders with Yemen, Oman, Jordan, Iraq and Kuwait or along its 1,640 miles of coastline.
Chirac hoped to conclude a deal on behalf of Thales when he visited Riyadh in March. But he emerged empty-handed from his visit when he failed even to obtain a meeting with Prince Sultan Bin Abdul Aziz al-Saud, the Defence Minister.
Chirac believed his long relationship with King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz al-Saud, who became ruler of Saudi Arabia and head of the House of Saud after King Fahd’s death last year, would secure the contract.
French Press commentators said the failure underlined France’s waning prestige in the Middle East and Chirac’s personal decline. The newspaper La Tribune accused him of misjudging his influence over the Saudi leadership. French radio said that lobbying by London and Washington had helped to persuade Riyadh to put the contract out to tender.
GengisK :ok: