Saudi Arabia has signed a $3 billion deal to buy Hawk jets from British defense group BAE Systems to train pilots to fly the Eurofighter Typhoon jets which it has already ordered from BAE. The Saudi Press Agency quoted an unnamed defense official Wednesday as saying the deal also includes simulators, ground equipment, training devices, spare parts and technical manuals. The official said the new jets would help qualify Saudi pilots “to use fourth-generation jet fighters in full professionalism and efficiency.” BAE Systems said that following the agreement between the two countries, it had been awarded a contract “to support the future aircrew training requirements of the Royal Saudi Air Force.” “The contract includes the supply of 22 new Hawk Advanced Jet Trainer aircraft, 55 Pilatus PC-21 aircraft and other aircrew training equipment, as well as an initial support package including the provision of spares, technical publications and post design support,” it said in a statement to the London Stock Exchange. Prince Salman Bin Abdul Aziz, Defense Minister, last month visited Britain, a major supplier of weapons to the Kingdom. The sale provides some welcome relief for the British defense giant, which is battling against shrinking defense budgets in Europe and America. However, the order is likely to come too late to save 845 jobs at BAE's Hawk factory in Brough, Yorkshire, which is set to close. Earlier this year, BAE said its chances of delivering profit growth in 2012 hinged on talks to finalize a range of contracts with Saudi Arabia in a year marked by tight government defense budgets. In 2007 Saudi Arabia signed the contract with BAE to buy 72 Typhoon aircraft, 24 of which have been delivered to the Royal Saudi Air Force. The Salam deal, as it is known, is worth around $7.3 billion.
