THE ROYAL SAUDI Arabian Air Force (RSAF) is to purchase 12 Eurocopter Cougar MkII helicopters configured for combat search and rescue (SAR) in a deal worth Fr3 billion ($600 million).
It is the first time that France has sold military equipment to the RSAF, and the first export sale of the combat/SAR version, a single example of which has been sold to the French air force.
The order is the second major contract for the Cougar this year and will, says Eurocopter, protect some 3,500 jobs in the Franco-German company. Spain ordered 15 Mk1s in February.
Source: Flight International
