I started this thread to point out some aspects of the Saudi acquisition of the EF-2000 fighter that many believe is just another "Fancy toy" or just a buy of a certain amount of numbers with nothing else involved and many who believe it is just another "waste of money"
What I will post here is show the great ambition Saudi Arabia as a country and what the RSAF expectations and dream about this superb Multi-role Fighter. And why this plane will in due time be the first REAL Saudi-fighter to fly the Saudi Arabian skies.
Arabian Aerospace - Saudis countdown to Typhoon service entry
"A contract for the acquisition of 72 Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft (together with training, support and technology transfer agreements) was finally signed on 29 August 2007, and this was publicly confirmed on 17 September 2007. The new deal is known as 'Project Salam"
"From an early stage, it became apparent that the
Al Salam programme would involve an unprecedented degree of defence technology transfer to a Middle Eastern country, including the establishment of a Typhoon assembly line in Saudi Arabia. Though the first 24 Typhoons ordered for the Royal Saudi Air Force would be diverted from a UK Royal Air Force order, and would thus be assembled at BAE Systems Warton plant, the remaining 48 aircraft (including six two-seaters) would be assembled in-country"
First: The creation of an assembly plant along with production of its spare parts in Saudi Arabia:
Technican training for Typhoon assembly in Saudi Arabia begins
"Initial training is taking place in Saudi Arabia. "The second part of the training will take place in the UK," says Tayeb, who adds that well over 100 new jobs will be created and that Alsalam will be the local technicians' employer"
"A further four have since been delivered to Saudi Arabia, with two more scheduled to be delivered by year-end. In the 18-month period that the balance of UK-built Typhoons are delivered to Saudi Arabia, the new, purpose-built final assembly will be stood up in the kingdom."
This article also pose an interesting read:
Arabian Aerospace - Phoon a friend?
2: Avionics and Fighter Electronics:
Rockwell Collins and Advanced Electronics Company form strategic alliance in the Middle East
"Under the agreement, AEC will collaborate with Rockwell Collins to design, develop, manufacture, test and market avionics, electronics, navigation and communications solutions for air, ground and maritime applications in Saudi Arabia and the Middle East." This the most interesting part of the deal".
3: Radars:
Selex Galileo KACST collaborate on high-level technology transfer | A1SaudiArabia.com
"Selex Galileo, a leading international defense electronics company, has collaborated with King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) to perform joint research and development projects in radio frequency, radar, communications, laser, electro-optics (eo) and infra-red technologies"
As you can see this one is not just a ToT but a
joint research on the future AESA radar going to be installed on the Typhoon.
4-Even the Targeting Pod which will be installed on the Typhoon will be Saudi made and this is an example:
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Which is made by ToT from Thales.
I realize that this does not qualify it as a full Saudi fighter not even close. But the amount of ToT and ambition being put on this plane has never happened in Saudi Arabia. This is why i believe that the Typhoon will be to Saudi Arabia what the F-16 is to Israel if not more.