If the Saudi deal was government to government, doesn't that mean that the UK is selling its own Tranche 2s? Therefore we appear to be getting more tranche 3's? Surely if this is the case the UK government could offset the Saudi purchase against the UKs contracted amount.
No, Eurofighter has explicitly stated that the Saudi order cannot be offset against the UK order.
After the first 24, the remaining aircraft will be assembled in Saudi, so if they replaced the RAF order that would mean the Warton production line would have to be shut down. Now think like a Labour MP, keep the UK Typhoon line open in place of JSF orders, or shut it down to keep LM workers in work in Fort Worth?
The Times: ....."Stefan Zoller, chief executive of EADS Defence Systems, which is part of the Eurofighter consortium, said that the MoD was negotiating with the aircraft’s manufacturers over how much it would cost to cut the Tranche 3 order........
The MoD is working on a compromise that would enable it to count 72 Typhoons that it is about to sell to Saudi Arabia as part of its 88 commitment. However, Mr Zoller insisted that the Tranche 3 contract was firm and that this was not an option. “The Saudi order will be on top, not instead of Tranche 3,” he said.