Saudi Arabia signs deal with BAE Systems 23.05.12
14Britain is to provide new training and support to the Royal Saudi Air Force.
The Kingdom has ordered 22 British made Hawk jets as part of a 1.6 billion pound contract to revamp the country's pilot and officer training.
The deal with BAE Systems and the UK government also includes 55 Swiss made Pilatus PC-21 propeller planes and associated support.
It is part of a drive to modernise officer and pilot training for Saudi Arabia's air force as it replaces its fleet of Tornados with Typhoons.
The Hawk deal is partly responsible for a decision to save 218 jobs at Brough in East Yorkshire.
BAE Systems had been planning to shut the manufacturing plant and move production of the plane to its other fast jet factories at Warton and Samlesbury in Lancashire.
470 workers reportedly remain at risk of redundancy though, and the Unite Union has vowed to keep fighting to save them.