Defence

Defence Secretary in Doha as BAE Systems agrees Typhoon contract with Qatar

Posted 11 December 2017

BAE Systems and the Government of the State of Qatar have entered into a contract, valued at approximately £5 billion, for the supply of 24 Typhoon aircraft to the Qatar Emiri Air Force, along with a bespoke support and training package.

Above: The Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson and his Qatari counterpart, Khalid bin Mohammed al Attiyah, oversaw the signing of the deal for 24 Typhoons.
Crown copyright

BAE Systems is the prime contractor for both the provision of the aircraft and the agreed arrangements for the in-service support and initial training. The contract provides for 24 Typhoon aircraft with delivery expected to commence in late 2022 and is subject to financing conditions and receipt by the Company of first payment (expected to be fulfilled no later than mid-2018).

The Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson and his Qatari counterpart, Khalid bin Mohammed al Attiyah, oversaw the signing of the deal for 24 Typhoons, building on the Statement of Intent signed in September. Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson said: "It is a great pleasure to sign our biggest export deal for the Typhoon in a decade. These formidable jets will boost the Qatari military’s mission to tackle the challenges we both share in the Middle East, supporting stability in the region and delivering security at home.

"As we proudly fly the flag for our world-leading aerospace sector all over the globe this news is a massive vote of confidence, supporting thousands of British jobs and injecting billions into our economy."

The aircraft will be assembled in the UK by BAE Systems, supporting thousands of jobs, especially at the company’s Warton site in Lancashire where it will secure work on the production line into the next decade. It is the biggest export deal for the Typhoon project in a decade.

Charles Woodburn, BAE Systems Chief Executive said: “We are delighted to begin a new chapter in the development of a long-term relationship with the State of Qatar and the Qatar Armed Forces and we look forward to working alongside our customer as they continue to develop their military capability.”

In addition, the agreement includes a clear intention to proceed with the purchase of Hawk aircraft. The deal also includes an agreement with MBDA for Brimstone and Meteor missiles and the highly-accurate Raytheon’s Paveway IV UK-manufactured weapon for the jets. The Defence Secretary also agreed a package of training and cooperation between the Air Forces which will see them working together more regularly, including Qatari pilots and ground-crew training in the UK.

The UK and Qatar share a close and longstanding defence relationship, with a joint-exercise between the Royal Air Force and the Emir of Qatar’s Air Force just last week seeing Typhoon jets fly over the Arabian Peninsula.

Qatar is the ninth country to purchase the Typhoon, with this year seeing the first delivered to Oman. The Ministry of Defence is also leading the offer to replace Belgium’s F-16s with the jets and continues to discuss the prospect of a second batch of sales to Saudi Arabia.