THE UK AND SAUDI Arabia are negotiating a memorandum of understanding, covering the potential sale of the Westland/ Agusta EH101 helicopter, outside the British Aerospace Al Yamamah arms agreement.
The Saudis are primarily interested in the anti-submarine-warfare (ASW) variant of the EH101, known as the Merlin, for the Royal Navy, although there is a possibility for sales of the utility variant.
According to Whitehall sources, the Saudi Arabian helicopters, if purchased, would be land-based, although, in the ASW role, they might also be operated from fixed shallow-water platforms.
Previously, Westland had tried to sell an armed variant of the Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk, the WS70,a as part of Al Yamamah.
The deal failed to be concluded under the agreement, causing friction between Westland and BAe over the latter's apparent lack of enthusiasm in pushing the WS70. Westland is thought initially to have looked at the possibility of supplying the WS70 outside the auspices of Al Yamamah. Effectively, the final nail in this bid was Sikorsky sale of its share in Westland to GKN, with the latter's acquisition of the company.
Saudi Arabia's airborne ASW requirement has been given added impetus by Iran's acquisition of a handful of Russian-built Kilo-class diesel-powered submarines.
Source: Flight International
