BAE Systems Receives Down-payment from Qatar to Buy 24 Typhoon, 9 Hawk Jets

Qatar made a down payment today to BAE Systems to secure a deal from the UK to buy 24 Eurofighter Typhoon jets and nine Hawks besides a training package altogether worth about GBP 5 Billion in a deal underwritten by UK Export Finance.

UK Export Finance’s (UKEF) £5bn package of support helped to secure the deal including by providing financing and insurance. UKEF’s role is to support UK exports including by providing export finance to enable overseas buyers to purchase goods and services from the UK, and export insurance for companies selling overseas. 

UK Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson said: “This monumental, multi-billion-pound deal is now officially in place. It’s a massive boost to the British defence industry, helping to support thousands of jobs, and it will help us further build the trust between the UK and Qatar to tackle the challenges we both share, support stability in the region and deliver security at home.”

BAE Systems Chief Executive, Charles Woodburn said: “This contract, effective today, represents a significant step in BAE Systems’ long-term relationship with the State of Qatar, as it becomes the ninth country to choose Typhoon. The proven combination of Typhoon and Hawk will provide the Qatari Armed Forces with the most advanced and flexible multi-role combat aircraft on the market today, along with best in class support and training.”

The Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson and his Qatari counterpart, Dr Khalid bin Mohammed al Attiyah, oversaw the signing of the deal in Doha in December. Deliveries of the first Typhoon aircraft are expected to commence in 2022.

The deal also involves a package of training and co-operation between the British and Qatari Air Forces which will see them working closely together in the future. A new UK-based Typhoon joint squadron, reformed as No.12 squadron, will comprise both Qatari Emiri Air Force and RAF personnel, including pilots and ground-crew based at RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire ahead of the delivery of the aircraft. It represents a unique initiative, with the RAF not having formed a squadron with another nation since the Second World War and the Battle of Britain.

Qatar is the ninth country to purchase the Typhoon.