Take-off for £6bn fighter jet deal
QATAR yesterday signed a deal to buy UK fighter jets in a £6billion boost for post-Brexit Britain.
The Gulf state has bought 24 eurofighter Typhoons in the biggest order of the warplanes in a decade.
The aircraft will be delivered from 2022, three years after the UK exits the eU and prepares to go ‘global’.
The deal also includes Brimstone missiles, a state-of-the-art precision weapon used by the RAf to take out Islamic State jihadists in Iraq and Syria.
The agreement was announced by Defence Secretary Gavin williamson on his first big overseas trip since being promoted to the job last month.
He said: ‘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 fighter aircraft will be assembled in the UK by BAe Systems. About 5,000 Britons are employed to build the Typhoon, mainly at warton in Lancashire. The Qatar agreement will secure work on the production line into the next decade.
The deal was signed in the capital Doha with Defence Minister Khalid bin Mohammed al-Attiyah. It also includes an agreement with MBDA Systems, a multinational company which includes British interests, for Brimstone and Meteor missiles.
Costing around £100,000 each, Brimstones were once described by former prime minister David Cameron as ‘some of the most accurate weapons known to man’.
Raytheon UK’s Paveway IV laser-guided bomb, also used in Syria and Iraq on bigger targets, was also part of the deal.
Qatar may also buy further military equipment from Britain such as Hawk trainer jets. Charles woodburn, of BAe Systems, 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.
‘This agreement is a strong endorsement of Typhoon’s leading capabilities and underlines BAe Systems’ long track record of working in successful partnership with our customers.’
The deal comes at a politically sensitive time, with heightened tensions in the Gulf. Saudi Arabia has led a boycott of Qatar for the last seven months.
The Kingdom – along with the United Arab emirates, Bahrain and egypt – has diplomatically isolated Qatar since June after accusing it of supporting Islamist extremists. It is also seen as too close to Shiite Iran, Riyadh’s arch-rival.
The four countries also cut off all air and sea links to Qatar. The Gulf state denies the allegations and has accused the Saudi-led bloc of aiming to incite regime change in Doha.
for Britain, the multi-billion-pound deal provides a notable export boost as the Brexit negotiations with the european Union continue to make progress.
The UK already has close links with Qatar because it uses a base near Doha to co-ordinate its strikes against IS in Syria and Iraq.
The country’s Al Udeid base is heavily guarded and has remained secret for years. In recent months the Qataris have been more open about the existence of the base.
former Defence Secretary Sir Michael fallon agreed the deal to sell Typhoon jets in September when he visited the base for the first time.
Defence officials are pushing the UK’s armed services to ‘flex their muscles globally’ as Britain exits the eU.