Expectations that the United Arab Emirates could confirm an order for the Eurofighter Typhoon before the end of the Dubai air show appear to have been played down by a senior UK government official.
“We’ve had a number of meetings, lots of other discussions going on, with lots of other strands of cooperation between the UAE and the UK,” says defence secretary Philip Hammond, who visited the show on its opening day. Prime minister David Cameron’s surprise visit to Dubai the previous afternoon not only included a tour of the exhibition site, but “a series of very important meetings”, he adds.
Referring to discussions over military collaboration, including the potential supply of the multi-role Typhoon, Hammond says: “We’re making good progress, but we’re not yet at the point of announcing anything publicly.
BAE Systems
“All our discussions with the UAE around military collaboration are about building partnerships, and have been for some time,” Hammond told journalists at show. “These are very complex discussions, involving many aspects – it’s certainly not simple equipment deals.”
In addition to combat aircraft, Hammond says other elements covered during the UK’s discussions to date with the UAE have included “training, security, operations, technological development, industrial partnership and investment”. Noting that reaching an eventual agreement would serve “both countries’ interests”, he adds: “we are making good progress in all of these areas.”
Commenting on the large-scale orders announced by Emirates Airline, Etihad Airways and Qatar Airways for Airbus commercial products earlier during the day, Hammond says: “That means huge numbers of jobs for the UK, both at Rolls-Royce, and in relation to the wing production for the aircraft. It’s very good news.”
Commenting on the show’s importance to the aerospace industry, he says: “People will pay a lot of attention to a region that is generating such a large proportion of business for the big civil airline manufacturers. There is also a big development going on of the UAE’s industrial base to support the supply of parts and components into the manufacture of those aircraft. It’s a good deal for both sides.”
Source: Flight Daily News
