BAE unveils £2.5 bn deal for military jets to Oman

Agence France Presse ^ | 12/22/2012 | Roland Jackson

[sukhoi-30mki]

BAE unveils £2.5 bn deal for military jets to Oman

LONDON — British defence giant BAE Systems unveiled on Friday a £2.5-billion ($4.1-billion, 3.1-billion-euro) deal to sell 12 Eurofighter Typhoon combat jets and eight Hawk trainer planes to Oman.

The deal, which will help sustain thousands of jobs in Britain, is the first major order since BAE Systems failed to merge with European aerospace giant EADS earlier this year, but failed to boost shares in the British company.

"BAE Systems and the government of the Sultanate of Oman have entered into a contract for the supply of Typhoon and Hawk Advanced Jet Trainer aircraft to the Royal Air Force of Oman," the London-listed company said in a statement.

"The contract, valued at approximately £2.5 billion, provides for the delivery of 12 Typhoon and 8 Hawk aircraft starting in 2017.

"BAE Systems is the prime contractor for both the provision of the aircraft and the agreed arrangements for in-service support."

British Prime Minister David Cameron was in Oman on Friday, and met with Sultan Qaboos to discuss "ongoing cooperation between both countries in several fields in light of their good relations and the mutual interests of their friendly people," Oman news agency ONA reported.

Oman has historically close relations with Britain and is the only Arab state in the Gulf that also has warm ties with neighbouring Iran, enabling it to become a key mediator between Tehran and the West.

Oman will become the seventh nation in the world, and the second in the Middle East, to own the

[sukhoi-30mki]

A BAE Typhoon takes off ahead of an air display at the Farnborough International Airshow in 2010. BAE is preparing to close a deal with Oman to supply Typhoon fighters and Hawk jet trainers to the country’s air force. (Ben Stansall / AFP)