BAE Systems in talks on Oman Typhoon order

UK defence firm BAE Systems is in talks to supply Typhoon fighter aircraft to Oman, it was reported on Monday. The government of Oman has requested that BAE Systems submit a formal bid for the supply of Typhoon fighter aircraft, Defencenews.com said, citing a company statement. A spokeswoman for the company was quoted as saying it expected to complete negotiations by the end of the year, with deliveries of the first aircraft taking place three years later. The request for proposals involves a squadron’s worth of Tranche 3 standard aircraft - about 12 airframes - a support package and training for the Omani air force. Last month, Oman ordered a second batch of 12 F-16s from Lockheed Martin in a $600m deal BAE said it welcomed the release of the request for proposals, adding that the news underpins its long-standing defence and security relationship with the sultanate as a major equipment supplier. Earlier this month, BAE announced that talks with the Middle East’s first Typhoon customer, Saudi Arabia, over amendments to a deal to supply 72 fighters, were dragging on and would likely affect its 2011 earnings. Typhoon is a four-nation programme involving the Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK So far, it has exported the aircraft to Austria and Saudi Arabia.