FWIW, IMHO, it is a good deal selling Tranche 3 to the Saudis.
We needed the Typhoon yesterday and we need it today but we do not need it tomorrow. The day after tomorrow, OTOH, is when we might need it.
In other words, lets get tranche 2 up to speed and into operations. Once it is more mature, once we know how much attrition replacement we need, then is the time to order tranche 4.
For sure we will need the Typhoon in years to come but we would be better off with next year's model than stuck with last year's one.
The longer the production run the better.
Or looking at what Archimedes says about Austria:
The saudis would be happy as they get Typhoon sooner. The UK Govt are happy as they can defer a purchase and CAS will be happy if he gets all his Typhoons by the time he is telling everyone he needs them - 2025
Last edited by Pontius Navigator; 17th Sep 2007 at 17:29.