Saudi minister sees new UK combat jet deal soon

Posted on: Dec. 21st, 2005 || Source: today.reuters.co.uk | E-mail Article | Print Article

Saudi minister sees new UK combat jet deal soon

RIYADH (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia is close to buying more combat aircraft from Britain, its defence minister said in remarks published on Wednesday, flagging a deal which one industry expert said may be worth 10 billion pounds.

"God willing, we hope to conclude in the near future a deal for modern planes with Britain," Prince Sultan bin Abdul-Aziz said after talks with visiting UK defence minister John Reid, according to the state-run Saudi Press Agency.

Sources close to the negotiations have said a deal is likely to involve Saudi Arabia buying at least 48 Eurofighter Typhoon jets, with an option to raise that to 72.

One senior source close to the situation told Reuters an agreement might be signed later in the day after Reid meets Saudi King Abdullah.

Saudi Arabia has a long history of buying arms from Britain dating back to the 1960s and usually paying in oil.

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