Britain’s BAE Systems recently said a Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft “in the full two-tone grey livery of the Royal Saudi Air Force (RSAF)” made its initial flight at BAE’s Warton Aerodrome in Lancashire, North West England.
This milestone marks the start of an initial test flight program for RSAF Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft being assembled at Warton, the company said.
In December 2005, Saudi Arabia and Britain signed an Understanding Document that aimed to establish a greater partnership in modernizing the Saudi armed forces.
This paved the way for the acquisition of 72 Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft, and the transfer of technology, investment and training, finalized in September 2007.
BAE is part of the Eurofighter consortium that builds Typhoon, along with Italy’s Finmeccanica and German and Spanish segments of European Aeronautic Defense and Space Co. (EADS).