BAE in Eurofighter talks with Oman

[Lyneham Lad]

In today's Financial Times:-

BAE in Eurofighter talks with Oman (http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/fde462d4-b10f-11dd-8915-0000779fd18c.html)

Extract from article:-
BAE Systems is in talks to sell up to 24 Eurofighter Typhoon fighter aircraft to Oman in a deal worth at least £1.4bn, the Financial Times has learnt.

UK defence sources close to the negotiations said the Gulf state wanted to replace its 24 ageing Jaguar jets with Typhoons within the next four years.

Nothing signed or sealed yet...

[ZH875]

That should leave the RAF with just enough Tranche 2 Block 8 Typhoons to equip the Red Arrows :rolleyes:

[Jackonicko]

They reported this in Flight Daily News at Farnborough.

FARNBOROUGH 2008: Oman pushes the Typhoon door ajar-18/07/2008-Flight International (http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2008/07/18/225867/farnborough-2008-oman-pushes-the-typhoon-door-ajar.html)

So it's gone from a 'glimmer of interest' to reported negotiations.

I'd be cautious about believing that it's gone that far. Wouldn't we expect Oman to be a Government-to-Government deal like Saudi - done via DESO as was, rather than BAE?

Taking Block 8s away would seem to be a good thing, to me. The RAF isn't ready for them, hasn't got the pilots to stand up another squadron, and could do with deferring the spending. Moreover, the Block 8 won't have the Austere A-G capability, and so won't be multi-role until P1E, which won't be here for five years.

As long as aircraft are replaced (as the Saudi ones will be) later down the line.

[The Helpful Stacker]

As long as aircraft are replaced (as the Saudi ones will be)....

I do hope so but who knows at the moment........

[Lyneham Lad]

Jacko wrote:-
I'd be cautious about believing that it's gone that far. Wouldn't we expect Oman to be a Government-to-Government deal like Saudi - done via DESO as was, rather than BAE?

The FT article does include the following statements (my italics):-
The sources said that BAE had been talking directly to the Omani government about the sale without using external advisers. The group’s use of middlemen formed part of an investigation into allegations – always denied by BAE – that bribery was used to secure a deal to sell arms and aircraft to Saudi Arabia in the 1980s.

Any agreement would be structured as a government-to-government contract, similar to last year’s deal to sell Typhoons to Saudi Arabia.

Presumably the above would indicate that the discussions still have some considerable way to run before pen meets paper...

[Jackonicko]

Yeah, sorry, hadn't read the full FT piece.

[Fishtailed]

Don't hold your breath, the Omanis 'ordered' Tornado ADVs aswell:hmm:

[The Helpful Stacker]

Aye, but considering their Jags are getting a bit long in the tooth and the Typhoon can (will be able to) carry out both the AD and GA roles it might not be that silly a purchase, especially as a neighbour of their's has also brought Typhoon.

[Fox3snapshot]

From today's Arabian Business....

Oman to buy Eurofighter jets in $2.1bn deal - report
by Andy Sambidge

Oman is in talks to buy up to 24 Eurofighter Typhoon jets from British group BAE Systems in a deal worth at least $2.1 billion, it was reported on Thursday.

The UK's Financial Times, citing British defence sources close to the negotiations, said the Gulf state wanted to replace its 24 ageing Jaguar jets with Typhoons within the next four years.

The Eurofighter multi-purpose combat jets have been developed by a consortium of Britain, Germany, Italy and Spain, with work divided in 1998 according to the number of aircraft each country planned to buy.

The FT said the jets planned for Oman would come out of the 88 that Britain is committed to buying, and help secure billions of pounds of maintenance and support work for BAE.

Saudi Arabia and Austria have also ordered the jets.

:cool:

[drustsonoferp]

The Arabian Business article only seems to have one source and a regurgitation of existing copy. Not overly useful then.

Jackonicko - Saudi Typhoons getting replaced? I thought the whole point of the deal was to get UK plc out of paying for our full, unsustainable offer without ruining the workshare agreements?

[Jackonicko]

Yes indeed. The 24 Saudi Typhoons from the Warton line are being replaced by 24 extra jets at the end of Tranche 2.

[spheroid]

Apparently the Typhoon can launch and then climb to 30,000' within 90 seconds.



Then it has to come down again just incase the enemy are anywhere near....... might scratch the paint

[KeepItTidy]

Well a few of us on these threads have spent considerable time in that so called country, they got US F16s few years back , but looking at there air force it really needs updating. Skyvans and Herc A models as well as some Hueys and a couple of BAC 1-11s as well as the Jags.

The USA wants back in there , the UK needs to hold onto it. The US were showing of a nice shiny new C17 not so long ago. It will go down to politics im sure and what is best for them.