Germany offers MoD way out on Eurofighters - FT Sat 13 Dec 08
The way I read things, it looks like this:
1. The UK has contracted to buy 88 Typhoons in the final tranch.
2. The Saudis want to buy 72 Typhoons from the UK.
3. However, Germany, Spain and Italy are arguing that the original Typhoon contract states that workshare from export sales should be divided equally between all 4 nations.
4. By contrast, the UK is arguing that the Typhoons it wishes to sell the Saudis would be it's own, and not an export order.
5. Meanwhile, the U.S. Congress has approved the UK's request to transfer 24 Eurofighter jets from its inventory to Saudi Arabia and cleared the way for the sale of another 48 new-build aircraft.
I think this is going to run and run.....