Aircraft
Revival of UK-Saudi Defense Pact Boosts Sales
The Royal Saudi Air Force is upgrading to BAE Hawk Advanced Jet Trainers and Pilatus PC-21 turboprops, from earlier models from the same manufacturers. (Photos: BAE Systems and Pilatus Aircraft)
The Royal Saudi Air Force is upgrading to BAE Hawk Advanced Jet Trainers and Pilatus PC-21 turboprops, from earlier models from the same manufacturers. (Photos: BAE Systems and Pilatus Aircraft)

A new contract worth $2.5 billion has been signed under the Saudi-British Defence Co-operation Program (SBDCP) to upgrade the pilot training syllabus of the Royal Saudi Air Force (RSAF). Prime contractor BAE Systems will supply 22 Hawk AJTs (advanced jet trainers), along with 55 Pilatus PC-21 turboprops, and a variety of ground-based training devices. The RSAF will also buy 25 basic trainers, but these have not yet been chosen and may not form part of the BAE-supplied package, a company spokesman told AIN.