Saudi Typhoon Pilots to Train at CY

[ORAC]

Saudi Typhoon pilots to train in UK (http://www.arabianbusiness.com/500850-saudi-to-train-typhoon-pilots-in-uk)

Saudi Arabia is to train the first 22 pilots and initial engineers for the Eurofighter Typhoon in the UK, following a recent $8.8bn 72 aircraft deal between the countries. Initial training will take place at RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire, alongside RAF pilots, according to Flight International.

‘Project Salam’ was inked earlier this month following 21 months of negotiations amid ongoing repercussions from the earlier al-Yamamah arms deal. Under the deal Saudi Arabia will procure aircraft for a similar price to those produced for the RAF, according to its defence ministry. However further arms and support contracts will substantially boost the value of the deal.

Riyadh’s first 24 Typhoons will be drawn from the UK’s deferred delivery of early Tranche 2 examples from a BAE Systems Lancashire assembly line, with the remainder to be completed at a new facility in Saudi Arabia, Flight International said.

The RAF and RSAF have co-operated with bilateral exercises for Tornado forces since February 2006. The UK service recently sent a senior officer to Riyadh for the first time to liaise between the nations’ air force chiefs.

[High_lander]

Is this a similar scheme to what we provide for the Indian Air Force with their new Hawks?

Hmm, will they adopt an all over colour, or will they go for the sand/brown (http://www.airliners.net/open.file?id=1274072&WxsIERv=Cnanivn%20Gbeanqb%20VQF&Wm=1&WdsYXMg=Fnhqv%20Nenovn%20-%20Nve%20Sbepr&QtODMg=Ybffvrzbhgu%20%28YZB%20%2F%20RTDF%29&ERDLTkt=HX%20-%20Fpbgynaq&ktODMp=Nhthfg%2029%2C%202007&BP=1&WNEb25u=Naqerj%20Qvpxvr&xsIERvdWdsY=7513&MgTUQtODMgKE=&YXMgTUQtODMgKERD=325&NEb25uZWxs=2007-09-24%2020%3A18%3A46&ODJ9dvCE=&O89Dcjdg=&static=yes&width=1600&height=1078&sok=JURER%20%20%28nveyvar%20%3D%20%27Fnhqv%20Nenovn%20-%20Nve%20Sbepr%27%29%20%20beqre%20ol%20cubgb_vq%20qrfp&photo_nr=6&prev_id=1274073&next_id=1271460&size=L) camoflage on the Saudi Tornado(e)s? Or a sand/slightly darker sand (http://www.airliners.net/open.file?id=1246489&WxsIERv=Ybpxurrq%20P-130U%20Urephyrf%20%28Y-382%29&Wm=1&WdsYXMg=Fnhqv%20Nenovn%20-%20Nve%20Sbepr&QtODMg=Ylarunz%20%28YLR%20%2F%20RTQY%29&ERDLTkt=HX%20-%20Ratynaq&ktODMp=Nhthfg%201%2C%202007&BP=0&WNEb25u=Puevf%20Ybsgvat&xsIERvdWdsY=473&MgTUQtODMgKE=&YXMgTUQtODMgKERD=993&NEb25uZWxs=2007-08-11%2019%3A26%3A11&ODJ9dvCE=&O89Dcjdg=&static=yes&width=1280&height=862&sok=JURER%20%20%28nveyvar%20%3D%20%27Fnhqv%20Nenovn%20-%20Nve%20Sbepr%27%29%20%20beqre%20ol%20cubgb_vq%20qrfp&photo_nr=48&prev_id=1247565&next_id=1244273&size=L)?

[ORAC]

Interesting discussion on the number of aircraft that will be available for the non-deployed squadrons next year as a knock on effect of Afghanistan and the Saudi order.

Eurofighter to Saudi Arabia!! (http://www.defencetalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5709&page=3)

[Sashathehungry]

No abbo slots on 29 for the forseeable future then. What a joke.

[TEEEJ]

Highlander,

They'll probably go for a grey scheme as they currently have on their Tornado F.3s. It would be nice to see the desert camo though!

[27mm]

The F3 in RSAF service is known as the ADV - they're well long in the tooth now and behind RAF upgrades, (still flying with Skytrash, 9L, Gun, minimal chaff/flare), though they did have the sense (unlike the RAF) to use AWMDS all the time. Apart from a night mid-air collision (from which all 4 crew members escaped) their safety record has been very respectable.

[High_lander]

TEEJ

Shame really, they all seem to be a different shade of grey.


(Cracking Typhoon photo's btw TEEJ)

[glad rag]

So when the inevitable "stack" occurs will HMG be out of pocket to the tune of 1 Typhoon?

[Valiantone]

So if the Saudis get the first a/c from T2, that presumably means the poor old F.3s have to slave away for how much longer? Last rumour was the OSD is 2012?

And I presume that will still be just 43 and 111 with how many Jets?

Its a similar situation to the last few years of the dear old former residents of Binbrook, the English Electric ones, not the Chavs that now frequent the village (or is that Pit?) that is Brookenby....:ugh:

V1

[SaddamsLoveChild]

Now it may be me, having experience of covering for the 2 saudi lads on my IOT whilst they were esconsed in a London hotel room but I expect there will be an influx of naughty ladies to cater for the black flag/ no flying days.:ok:

A business plan is forming in my head, does any one know of a large multi bedroomed house set in a discrete location that is for sale? or will the local ladies step in at CGY and oblige!!!:eek:

[LooseArticle]

I hope project SALAM is more successful than Project SLAM..........

[adminblunty]

If they are anything like the saudi crews who flew GR1s at Honington, they like to drop bombs on the runway during take off.