Qatar Confirms Purchase of 12 Eurofighter Typhoon Aircrafts From European Consortium

Dow Jones12-06

By Cristina Gallardo

Qatar confirmed plans to buy another 12 Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft, dispelling concerns over a shortage of workload at the U.K. assembly plant for the fighter jet.

The move is positive news for BAE Systems, Airbus, Leonardo and Spain's Indra--the four European defense companies behind the production of the jets, and emerged after this week's state visit by the emir of Qatar to London.

In a joint statement issued by the Qatari government, the emirate said it would procure a further 12 Typhoon fighter jets, as part of an extension of the existing partnership between the British and Qatari armed forces.

This extended partnership will also allow for more training exercises and the graduation of Qatari and British pilots in both countries, as well as to explore a collaboration to develop a land platform, according to the statement, which didn't specify whether this refers to a ground fighting vehicle, a tank or any other type of land system.

Qatar is yet to place an order, but the commitment brings relief to BAE Systems, following concerns over the lack of workload at its Warton facility in Lancashire, north of England.

Last month, Steve McGuinness, a member of the Unite trade union executive council, wrote a letter to Westminster lawmakers in the U.K. parliament's defense committee raising concerns over a shortage of Typhoons being final-assembled at Warton, and urging the U.K. government to urgently commit to ordering a squadron of 24 additional Typhoons.

Within the Eurofighter consortium, the U.K. takes the lead on negotiations for orders from Qatar, Turkey and Saudi Arabia, and the government is involved in talks with all three nations for future orders.

Shares in BAE Systems are down 0.28% at 12.44 pounds, while those in Airbus are up 1.80% at 156 euros. Leonardo is trading flat at 26.65 euros, and Indra is up 0.2% at 17.22 euros.

Write to Cristina Gallardo at cristina.gallardo@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

December 06, 2024 07:07 ET (12:07 GMT)

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Qatar Confirms Purchase of 12 Eurofighter Typhoon Aircrafts From European Consortium

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