Kuwait in talks to buy up to 28 Eurofighters

[Zarvan]

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ROME — Kuwait has started discussions to buy up to 28 Eurofighters, a source with knowledge of the talks told Defense News.

Kuwait is discussing the deal with the Italian Defense Ministry, the Italian Air Force and Italian firm Alenia Aermacchi, which is the Eurofighter partner company that has led the Eurofighter marketing campaign in Kuwait.

Talks started May 31 and representatives of the Italian Defense Ministry, Air Force and Alenia Aermacchi are in Kuwait participating, the source said.

The talks cover the possible acquisition of two squadrons — or between 24 and 28 aircraft — plus training and logistics, the source added.

Under a military cooperation deal signed between Italy and Kuwait, two groups of Kuwaiti pilots have already trained at the Italian Air Force's training school in Lecce in southern Italy.

The report that Kuwait is talking to Italy follows reports last month that the US government was in discussions with Kuwait to sell up to 40 Boeing F/A-18 E and F Super Hornet strike fighters.

Another source noted that a Kuwaiti deal for Eurofighters would not necessarily affect a potential foreign military sale for the Boeing aircraft.

"There has always been the possibility for a split buy," the other source said Thursday. "Talks with the US government about a Super Hornet sale are still moving forward."

The gulf state has been evaluating new fighters for two years.

A Eurofighter deal would be welcome news for the European consortium building the aircraft, which consists of Italy's Finmeccanica, BAE Systems and Airbus, after the French Rafale scooped new orders from Egypt and Qatar.

Apart from the air forces of Britain, Italy, Spain, Austria and Germany, Saudi Arabia also operates the Eurofighter, and Oman has placed orders.

Christopher P. Cavas in Washington contributed to this story.

Email: tkington@defensenews.com
Kuwait, Italy Discuss Eurofighter Buy

 

[Ankit Kumar 001]

Hi
I think that this might not be true as according to the agreement signed by UK, Germany and Italy. The sales of Eurofighter were divided between BAE which would look at middle east, Airbus/EADS which would overlook Asia and Finmeccania over rest of the world. Accordingly the sales of Eurofighter to Saudi was done by BAE and EADS offered it to India. But the article states that its an Italian firm offering Kuwait Eurofighter. I might be wrong but according to the agreement this is not possible. Why would BAE want to loose out its business?
Cheers
Thanks

 

[black-hawk_101]

WOW! They are buying many jets.

 

[Marshmallow]

Ahlun Wahsehlun Merhaba Ya Kuwait!

 

[Sinai Horus]

Go brothers go! the coalition is only getting stronger.

Spoiler

Egypt+KSA+Kuwait+UAE

 

[Sinnerman108]

Hi
I think that this might not be true as according to the agreement signed by UK, Germany and Italy. The sales of Eurofighter were divided between BAE which would look at middle east, Airbus/EADS which would overlook Asia and Finmeccania over rest of the world. Accordingly the sales of Eurofighter to Saudi was done by BAE and EADS offered it to India. But the article states that its an Italian firm offering Kuwait Eurofighter. I might be wrong but according to the agreement this is not possible. Why would BAE want to loose out its business?
Cheers
Thanks

Airbus is working full fledged in ME.

 

[Waseem.Khan]

Last day attacked in Kuwait is a real threat for Kuwaitis now