October 21, 200818 yr From ARES Typhoon Watch Posted by Douglas Barrie at 10/21/2008 7:29 AM CDT The first of the Royal Saudi Air Force’s Tranche 2 Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft was flown on its maiden flight October 20th from BAE Systems Warton facility in the north of England. Saudi Arabia has 72 Typhoons on order, with formal delivery of the type to the RSAF expected to begin in June or July 2009. October also saw the start of deliveries of Tranche 2 aircraft to the Royal Air Force. The RAF will receive 91 Tranche 2 aircraft. The first two were delivered to RAF Coningsby October 21. London and Riyadh are continuing to discuss the acquisition of additional Typhoon aircraft. These could be drawn from the UK’s Tranche 3 commitment. While Saudi Arabia wants to carry out final assembly of the last 48 of its 72-aircraft order in country, how this is to be accomplished remains to be finalized. Saudi company Alsalam Aircraft Co. will almost certainly lead this effort in country, with one of its sites to be used as the final assembly line. Images of the first RSAF aircraft ...
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