Qatar orders 24 Typhoons from BAE

The government of the State of Qatar has agreed a £5bn deal to buy 24 Typhoon aircraft, with BAE Systems the prime contractor.

The purchase also includes a bespoke support and training package for the Qatar Emiri Air Force.

Defence secretary Gavin Williamson and his Qatari counterpart, Khalid bin Mohammed al Attiyah, oversaw the signing of the deal, building on the Statement of Intent signed in September.

Typhoon is a major part of BAE Systems' Lancashire operations, with manufacturing work taking place at Samlesbury and final assembly, flight testing and further engineering taking place at Warton.

BAE Systems says the deal will support 'thousands of jobs', particularly at Warton.

The organisation employs around 10,000 in the county, but recently announced 750 jobs losses in the area and 1,915 across its entire UK operations.

At the time, Lancashire MPs wrote to Prime Minister Theresa May demanding immediate action to avert a “disaster”, with Preston MP Mark Hendrick raising the matter in the Commons debates.

This latest order from Qatar should hopefully bring stability to the two plants, which rely heavily on the success of Hawk and Typhoon.

Charles Woodburn, BAE Systems chief executive said: “We are delighted to begin a new chapter in the development of a long-term relationship with the State of Qatar and the Qatar Armed Forces, and we look forward to working alongside our customer as they continue to develop their military capability." BAE Systems plans to deliver the aircraft in 2022.