possible future F-22 exports intended to compete with Eurofighter?

A recent senate panel has urged the US Air Force to development an export model of the F-22.

Before this was not allowed as the F-22 was considered so costly and the new stealth technology that made it up to be "the best fighter jet ever", obviously too good to sell, even to close allies of the US.

But after Obama forced F-22 production to be stopped on the 187th fighter and threatened to veto the rest since the plane had no war to fight and wasn't that reliable meant that people who were clinging to their jobs relating to this Cold War era fighter would be out of work, however production could be continued if models were made to export, they were obviously being represented by Congress on this one.

Countries showing interest in buying the F-22 are Australia, Japan and Israel.

While Australia and Israel were to get the F-35 Lighting II (which was designed nearly solely for export) but it appears having the F-22 up for sale will definitely change things or make them more complicated.

However my first thoughts on this whole idea may be Lockheed Martin wanting a chance to compete in the foreign market of selling fighter jets with the Eurofighter Typhoon.



The Eurofighter has been introduced six years ago and is seen stepped up production, however the design and idea of such a a twin-engine canard-delta wing multirole jet fighter has originated between the Western European allies that designed it as far back as the Cold War, it is often compared to the Raptor but cost half as much and has been shown to be more reliable.

72 Eurofighters for GB£4.43 billion



The United Kingdom has made it's biggest arms deal in history, with Saudi Arabia of all people, the agreement is for 72 Eurofighters 24 of which to be in the Tranche 2 build standard which were previously destined to be the first of its kind in the RAF front line will now be instead sent to Saudi Arabia.

The BAe deal worth GB£4.43 billion is a contract I'm sure Lockheed Martin would have liked to have the likes of and would certainly hope to have a similar arms deal in the mere future to help maintain good business.

This deal has also shifted the balance of air power in the Middle East to Saudi Arabia's favor and is the biggest single sale of jet fighters to a Gulf country since the 80 F-14 Tomcats sold to Iran during Project Persian King in the late 1970's!

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!