{"id":60154,"date":"2017-11-28T21:47:01","date_gmt":"2017-11-28T21:47:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/uncategorized\/2017\/11\/28\/bae-testifies-to-lawmakers-on-saudi-interest-in-typhoons-recent-workforce-cuts\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T00:31:02","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T00:31:02","slug":"bae-testifies-to-lawmakers-on-saudi-interest-in-typhoons-recent-workforce-cuts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/air\/2017\/11\/28\/bae-testifies-to-lawmakers-on-saudi-interest-in-typhoons-recent-workforce-cuts\/","title":{"rendered":"BAE testifies to lawmakers on Saudi interest in Typhoons, recent workforce cuts"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

LONDON \u2014 Talks over an order for a second batch of Typhoons for Saudi Arabia are ongoing, BAE Systems\u2019 head of government relations has told British lawmakers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe are still talking to our Saudi customer about the next set of requirements,\u201d Bob Keen told the Defence Select Committee on Tuesday. \u201cThere are a raft of issues that surround that, including our continuing commitment to the Vision 2030 agenda and investing in Saudi Arabia, where we already employ 6,000 people. I wouldn\u2019t want to put a date when we would secure more business, but we are working absolutely flat out to make sure that is as soon as possible.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The executive didn\u2019t expand on issues surrounding Saudi Arabia\u2019s Vision 2030, a Saudi government plan to wean the country off its dependence on oil and diversify the economy into high-tech sectors like aerospace; but it may be connected with the amount of work the Saudis expect to be undertaken locally on any new Typhoon order. The original Saudi deal for 72 aircraft included a commitment by BAE to undertake a degree of local assembly, but that plan was eventually shelved.<\/p>\n\n\n\t