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Saudi choice for targeting pod won’t be Israeli
By ANDREW CHUTER
November 14, 2007
Typhoon combat aircraft destined for Saudi Arabia are set to be fitted with a French-made targeting pod rather than the Israeli system fitted by the British Royal Air Force.
BAE Systems inked a deal earlier this year to deliver 72 Typhoons to the Saudi air force. Part of that agreement involves Thales supplying the Damocles designator pod, said industry sources at the show.
Thales said it didn’t know anything about the decision. BAE wouldn’t comment.
The British have purchased 20 Litening III pods from Israel’s Rafael as an urgent operational requirement to fit out Typhoon aircraft with an initial air-to-ground capability.
But fitting Israeli equipment to a Saudi fighter is a nonstarter, so the British have opted to use the Damocles.
The designator pod is already being delivered to the Saudi air force as part of an upgrade to its Tornado strike fleet being undertaken by the British.
The Dubai 2007 Show News reported Nov. 13 that the Saudis were acquiring 30 pods for its Tornado update.
The French company has teamed with Riyadh-based AEC to produce parts for the Damocles, according to Show News.
Thales declined to comment on the Tornado deal, but a picture in the paper of a Saudi Tornado flying with the targeting pod fitted appears to settle any
debate on the issue
France, Malaysia and the UAE have already purchased the pod.
Britain could become another customer as the Royal Air Force considers what to do about a targeting pod beyond the 20 already ordered from Rafael to meet immediate requirements
The British are already investigating their options and have test-flown at least one pod other than the Litening recently.
Industry sources here said the Lockheed Sniper pod, Damocles and a possible British/French development could be among the options. The Sniper was selected recently for use on Harrier GR9s as an urgent operational requirement for aircraft in Afghanistan.
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30-11-2007, 17:26
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