the curious case of the BAe Saudi arms deal

It was revealed in 2006 that Saudi Arabia had agreed to buy 72 Eurofighter Typhoon F-2 fighter jets off BAe (British Aerospace) would produce these aircraft and sell them to the Saudi's for £5 billion pounds, that would make it the biggest arms deal in British history.

Right from the start it was to be shrouded in acrimony and controversy, later in the year the Saudis threatened to instead to pull out of the deal and buy some French Rafales when a UK Serious Fraud Office investigation into the Al Yamamah ("the dove") defence deals, but even though there was a serious amount of controversy the deals kicked on regardless.



24 these aircraft will be at the Tranche 2 build standard, previously destined for the UK RAF, the first being delivered in 2008 (Saudi Arabia currently have two already). The remaining 48 aircraft will be assembled in Saudi Arabia and delivered from 2011.

Saudi Arabia are even thinking of buying some 24 more jets in the mere future or as some other reports suggest as high as another 60 or even 70!



British Aerospace has long been the subject of allegations of bribery in relation to its business in Saudi Arabia, the Al Yamamah arms sales in the 1990's saw them sell Saudi Arabia 24 of their Panavia Tornado ADV's, BAe was accused of maintaining a £60 million Saudi slush fund, however investigations into these have been discontinued in 2006 when the deal for the Typhoon came to life.

It's attorney general has stated that the deal was in the public's interest since it was "to safeguard national and international security", probably meaning the security of the strategic and oil significance of Saudi Arabia and the significance of the amount of money anyone on the British side of the deal gets to pocket!



It also sees Saudi Arabia acquring a significantly hi-tech airplane, better than anything and in more quantity than anything that it's neighbors currently possess.

The United States Department of Justice gave its approval for the sale that was needed because the Eurofighter contains a significant amount of American technology and the United States does ironically own most of BAe meaning that BAe need American permission to build such planes to defend British skies!

Now pity they wouldn't stop bullying Sukhoi and let them give Iran some Su-30 Flankers!