European Eurofighter consortium secured its third fighter export deal from the Middle Eastern region, with latest order placed by Kuwait...
European Eurofighter consortium secured its third fighter export deal from the Middle Eastern region, with latest order placed by Kuwait.
Kuwait signed an agreement with Eurofighter partner nation Italy, for the supply of 28 Typhoon swing role fighter jets.
This latest order follows an order from Oman for 12 aircraft in December 2012, along with Saudi Arabia in 2007. Financial details of the deal has not been disclosed.
The order comes when the region is in turmoil with the Saudi led Gulf coalition fighting against the Houthi rebels in Yemen and the international coalition led by U.S. fighting the ISIL in Syria and Iraq.
Post Gulf war, Kuwaiti Air Force modernized its fleet with 40 Boeing F/A-18 fighters including 8 trainer variants. Latest variants of these jets offered, were rejected by Kuwait.
Kuwait will benefit from the operational Saudi Typhoon squadrons in terms of training and tactics, and will enable improved interoperability between the two neighbours.
Since entry into service of the first Eurofighter Typhoon at the end of 2003, 444 aircraft of the 599 ordered have been delivered to six nations: Germany, the United Kingdom, Italy, Spain, Austria and Saudi Arabia. Eurofighter Typhoon is currently in service at 22 operational units and up to now, the whole fleet has completed more than 300,000 flying hours worldwide.
In February, Qatar had placed an order for 36 French built Dassault Rafale fighters.
