Saudi Arabia to have own aircraft industry
Arab News - 01 July, 2009
www.gulfinthemedia.com/index.php?id=477536&news_type=Economy&lang=en

An aeronautics industry will be developed in the Kingdom to assemble 48
Eurofighter Typhoon jets with the support of companies participating in the
Economic Offset Program, Gen. Prince Abdul Rahman bin Fahd Al-Faisal,
commander of the Royal Saudi Air Force, said yesterday.

Speaking to reporters after receiving the first two Typhoon jets, part of
the 72-aircraft deal signed with Britain's BAE Systems, the general said the
new fourth-generation planes with advanced facilities would strengthen the
Kingdom's defense capabilities.

"We have received these planes as a blessing from God and thanks to the
efforts of our leadership," Prince Abdul Rahman said.

The deal was worth 20 billion pounds ($ 32.9 billion).

"The Typhoon is one of the most modern fighter planes," the general said.
"These planes will not stay in a particular base. They will move around in
accordance with the Kingdom's defense requirements."

Prince Abdul Rahman said some of the plane's spare parts would be
manufactured in the Kingdom. Since the signing of an operation and
maintenance contract for these aircraft, a number of officers and engineers
have been sent for training on advanced equipment by experts from the
Britain's Royal Air Force," he said.

A ceremony was held at King Fahd Airbase in Taif to receive the two
aircraft. Prince Abdul Rahman shook hands with the pilots and technicians of
the plane and handed over the flag to the head of the squadron in the
presence of Maj. Gen. Saad bin Ibrahim Al-Thuwaini, commander of Taif.

Maj. Gen. Fayyad Al-Ruwaili, commander of the airbase, said the Typhoon jets
would strengthen the fighting capabilities of the Saudi armed forces.

"We have also focused our efforts on training Saudis to operate and maintain
such advanced fighter jets," he pointed out.

Two weeks ago, Prince Khaled bin Sultan, assistant minister of defense and
aviation, received the two jets at a ceremony in London. Saudi Arabia is the
first country outside Europe to have the Typhoon jets.

The deal was first announced in August 2006 while the contract for the
aircraft was signed in September 2007. Under the deal, BAE is to deliver 24
completely built Typhoons to the Royal Saudi Air Force while another 48 are
to be assembled in the Kingdom. Prince Khaled said Saudis would be given
priority in jobs in assembling and maintenance of the planes. "The
acquisition of the new aircraft was not to threaten anyone but to secure the
Kingdom over the coming decades," he said in London.