Oman Typhoon
UK says Oman intends to buy Eurofighters
There is also some information on Reuters albeit very sketchy.
More to be released later today...
Oman has indicated that it intends to buy an unspecified number of Eurofighter warplanes, Prime Minister Gordon Brown's spokesman said Friday.
The possible deal followed three years of talks between Brown and the leaders of Oman, the spokesman said without giving details of the size or timing of any sale.
Media reports in late 2008 said Oman was in talks with BAE Systems (BAES.L) to buy 24 Typhoons worth at least 1.4 billion pounds.
The British company makes the Eurofighter alongside Italian group Finmeccanica (SIFI.MI) and European aerospace group EADS (EAD.PA). The engines are supplied by a group led by Rolls-Royce (RR.L) and Germany's MTU Aero Engines (MTXGn.DE).
A BAE spokesman said the company had no immediate comment, but would release a statement later Friday.
If confirmed, the deal would give a boost to the Eurofighter project after years of uncertainty over whether European countries would agree to buy the full number of jets they signed up for.
The possible deal followed three years of talks between Brown and the leaders of Oman, the spokesman said without giving details of the size or timing of any sale.
Media reports in late 2008 said Oman was in talks with BAE Systems (BAES.L) to buy 24 Typhoons worth at least 1.4 billion pounds.
The British company makes the Eurofighter alongside Italian group Finmeccanica (SIFI.MI) and European aerospace group EADS (EAD.PA). The engines are supplied by a group led by Rolls-Royce (RR.L) and Germany's MTU Aero Engines (MTXGn.DE).
A BAE spokesman said the company had no immediate comment, but would release a statement later Friday.
If confirmed, the deal would give a boost to the Eurofighter project after years of uncertainty over whether European countries would agree to buy the full number of jets they signed up for.
Seems the Conservative spokesman knows a lot about the aircraft (4th paragraph from the bottom)
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Old News - New Spin
This is pretty old hat really. OK the project may have nudged forward a tad but in essence there's nothing new in this that hasn't been reported before. No dates, no numbers, not even a hint of something new such as whether they'll train in UK or Oman. Not surprising that BAES didn't have a statement ready to go - they were probably taken aback by the Downing St spin machine releasing a 'good for Gordon' item based on this subject at this stage. OK, I'm a cynical old git and I'll pour another glass of claret.
Old News - New Spin
This is pretty old hat really. OK the project may have nudged forward a tad but in essence there's nothing new in this that hasn't been reported before. No dates, no numbers, not even a hint of something new such as whether they'll train in UK or Oman. Not surprising that BAES didn't have a statement ready to go - they were probably taken aback by the Downing St spin machine releasing a 'good for Gordon' item based on this subject at this stage. OK, I'm a cynical old git and I'll pour another glass of claret.
This is pretty old hat really. OK the project may have nudged forward a tad but in essence there's nothing new in this that hasn't been reported before. No dates, no numbers, not even a hint of something new such as whether they'll train in UK or Oman. Not surprising that BAES didn't have a statement ready to go - they were probably taken aback by the Downing St spin machine releasing a 'good for Gordon' item based on this subject at this stage. OK, I'm a cynical old git and I'll pour another glass of claret.
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Lyneham Lad,
Does that fit actually work? I've sort of lost track/ interest in the upgrades as a direct result of Torpy banging on about the system when not much seemed to be happening to the actual capability. My last understanding was that A-G wise the aircraft had a pod and an LGB, but no stand off weapon and a clear air-mass ML only capability...am I wrong?
In that fit, yes, swing role isn't a fib, but if my suspicions are correct it would be better termed an 'AD platform with austere A-G weaponry'.
Before anyone bites, i am sure that it's already a great A-A aircraft and given more time and money it will be ace at A-G...and will probably solve third world debt and cure cancer too.
Just lost interest again...
Does that fit actually work? I've sort of lost track/ interest in the upgrades as a direct result of Torpy banging on about the system when not much seemed to be happening to the actual capability. My last understanding was that A-G wise the aircraft had a pod and an LGB, but no stand off weapon and a clear air-mass ML only capability...am I wrong?
In that fit, yes, swing role isn't a fib, but if my suspicions are correct it would be better termed an 'AD platform with austere A-G weaponry'.
Before anyone bites, i am sure that it's already a great A-A aircraft and given more time and money it will be ace at A-G...and will probably solve third world debt and cure cancer too.
Just lost interest again...
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Great Sales Force
I am not sure what role the Oman government are buying the Typhoon to fill, bearing in mind they already have F-16s and are perhaps considering retiring their Jaguars. BAe managed to sell Lightnings to Saudi, for ground attack, and the Jaguar to Oman for Air Defence even though it did not have any sort of radar fitted! Top sales people!
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Well deserved cynism aside for a moment, any idea which tranche model they're after ?
Personally I'd love to see the RAF flog off their tranche 1's, then go all tranche 2 & upgrade - last I heard, tranche 3 was unlikely to happen.
As for replacing Jaguar...!
Personally I'd love to see the RAF flog off their tranche 1's, then go all tranche 2 & upgrade - last I heard, tranche 3 was unlikely to happen.
As for replacing Jaguar...!
Since it's Government to Government, BAE S would have had little to do with it, thus far, Saint.
Double Z,
You'd like to flog off the Tranche 1 jets - the only jets we have with any A-G capability - would you?
Double Z,
You'd like to flog off the Tranche 1 jets - the only jets we have with any A-G capability - would you?
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Bit Off topic but would I be right in thinking the Oman Air Force was looking at C17s, when I was out about 18 months ago the US were displaying one there. Maybe the Oman military is trying to be 21st centuary as well as keeping ties with the Western world. Lets face it there military force until the F16s arrived was pretty poor for a Gulf nation.
God knows as they have about so few years left of Oil they investing noew perhaps
God knows as they have about so few years left of Oil they investing noew perhaps
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It's the only way the Guvmint can meet its contractual obligations.
It has to buy them but can't afford them, so it gets its chums to buy them instead (probably brokered through Mr Bliar)
It has to buy them but can't afford them, so it gets its chums to buy them instead (probably brokered through Mr Bliar)
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The 'SEAD' fit/link on that page made me giggle aswell.... what world do they live in??
Eurofighter Typhoon - Suppression of Enemy Air Defences
Eurofighter Typhoon - Suppression of Enemy Air Defences
Suspicion breeds confidence
You'd like to flog off the Tranche 1 jets - the only jets we have with any A-G capability - would you?
If you want true A-G then F35 is the way to go and this frees up more cash to buy them.
Don't be obtuse, Navaleye.
The Tranche 1 jets are, for the time being, the only A-G capable Typhoons, and the only jets in the inventory with a swing role capability.
By the time F-35s are anywhere near ready, the Harriers will be long gone, the GR4s on the verge of retirement, and the Tranche 1 jets close to their end of life.
The Tranche 1 jets are, for the time being, the only A-G capable Typhoons, and the only jets in the inventory with a swing role capability.
By the time F-35s are anywhere near ready, the Harriers will be long gone, the GR4s on the verge of retirement, and the Tranche 1 jets close to their end of life.
Suspicion breeds confidence
Jacko I'm not being obtuse. Under current plans 800NAS will be the first squadron to re-equipped with the F35 with 801 following two years later. What ever they call an IFTU these days will form earlier, so the GR9 and the F35 will be operational together for some time.
We are facing significant public spending cuts and defence is no exception. At the moment all the forces are saying "you can't touch this bit because..." the reality is if we can sell 24 a/c we don't really need right now, then I predict that will happen. Not ideal are not desireable, but we are where we are.
The Oman sale reinforces a relationship with a key ally, and what's the betting they will be flown by RAF pilots for some time.
The alternative is to flog our reduced buy of Tranche 3. I can't see why that would be preferable.
We are facing significant public spending cuts and defence is no exception. At the moment all the forces are saying "you can't touch this bit because..." the reality is if we can sell 24 a/c we don't really need right now, then I predict that will happen. Not ideal are not desireable, but we are where we are.
The Oman sale reinforces a relationship with a key ally, and what's the betting they will be flown by RAF pilots for some time.
The alternative is to flog our reduced buy of Tranche 3. I can't see why that would be preferable.
Are you aware of the REAL progress of the F-35 programme?
Do you seriously think the GR9s will last until the F-35B is actually ready?
Are you sanguine that it's a remotely good idea to take aircraft into service before the US have finished IOT&E (after -130J I'm not).
With only about 50 Typhoons delivered, do you seriously think we can spare 24 of them?
You're f***ing deranged, chum.
Do you seriously think the GR9s will last until the F-35B is actually ready?
Are you sanguine that it's a remotely good idea to take aircraft into service before the US have finished IOT&E (after -130J I'm not).
With only about 50 Typhoons delivered, do you seriously think we can spare 24 of them?
You're f***ing deranged, chum.