Vigilance can report that the Governments of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland have reached agreement for the UK to support a programme that will provide the Royal Saudi Air Force (RSAF) with the cutting edge officer and aircrew training capability required, in particular, to support the introduction and operation of its growing fleet of fourth generation Typhoon fighter aircraft.
Vigilance gathered that the advanced aircrew training capability introduced by this programme is designed to result in the standard of graduating students being higher in terms of both capability and readiness.
A source at the MoD said under the agreement, the RSAF will receive 22 BAE Systems Hawk Advanced Jet Trainers (AJT), 55 PC-21 advanced turboprop trainers, 25 primary training aircraft, and a variety of advanced Aircrew Training Devices, upgraded training facilities, and initial spares support.
According to the source Hawk AJT will eventually replace the RSAF’s current fleet of Hawk Mark 65/65a trainers, reflecting the Saudi Arabian Government’s confidence both in the outstanding capabilities of the Hawk family of advanced jet trainers and the UK’s ability to continue to meet Saudi Arabia’s legitimate defence requirements.
The UK Government warmly welcomes the Saudi Arabian Government’s decision to confirm UK support for its officer and aircrew training requirements.