BAE signs £1.6bn Saudi jets deal

Defence giant BAE Systems has signed a £1.6 billion contract to supply Hawk aircraft to Saudi Arabia. The firm said the deal includes the supply of 55 Pilatus PC-21 aircraft and 22 Hawk advanced jet trainer aircraft, as well as spares and technical support. Guy Griffiths, BAE's group managing director International, said: "We are honoured that BAE Systems has been awarded this contract to provide the Royal Saudi Air Force with aircraft and training equipment to meet their future air crew training needs. "We have a long history in the kingdom of Saudi Arabia and, working with Pilatus, we will provide the RSAF with the best training platforms to meet their requirements. "Through the Hawk advanced jet trainer, the trainee fast jet pilots will have access to the very latest in advanced simulation for radar, weapons and defensive aids training to enable a smooth transition to frontline aircraft, including Typhoon." Deliveries of the Pilatus PC-21, manufactured in Switzerland, will start in 2014. The UK-built Hawk aircraft will be delivered from 2016. Unions welcomed the deal, but said it made no difference to the Hawk site at Brough in North Yorkshire, which faces cutbacks previously announced by the company. Ian Waddell, Unite's national officer for aerospace, said: "This is good news for BAE, but makes no difference to the Brough site. This contract was always in the plan and the announcement has been anticipated for the last year. "We've managed to save about 200 jobs at Brough, but still have a massive challenge to save the other 650. There are other BAE sites across the North West where workers are also frightened for their future and thousands of jobs are at risk. "Two hundred jobs saved feels like a drop in the ocean for our members. BAE's strategy of transferring Hawk from the Brough site to Lancashire was predicated on them winning this Saudi order, so it will not save any of the jobs currently under threat at either Brough or the Lancashire sites."