UK in talks on selling 12 fighter jets to Manama

London: Britain is in talks to sell 12 Typhoon fighter jets to Bahrain. The proposed deal with Bahrain is thought to be worth more than £1 billion (Dh5.70 billion) and is part of a concerted effort by Gulf countries to strengthen military ties with Britain.

The deal was one of the main items on the agenda when David Cameron, the British Prime Minister, met King Hamad Bin Eisa Al Khalifa in Downing Street last week.

Bahraini sources said negotiations centred on a plan to buy a squadron of 12 of the fighter jets which are also used by the RAF. Downing Street confirmed that talks were in their “early stages” and the Government’s international trade department said Bahrain “would be a valuable addition to the Typhoon family”.

Sources cautioned that there could still be lengthy negotiations over what training and support would be needed for the jets, as Bahrain tries to overhaul and update its air force.

The Gulf has become a focus of sales of the Typhoon Eurofighter, which is made by Britain’s BAE Systems in conjunction with EADS, the European aerospace corporation, and Finmeccanica of Italy.

BAE signed a £4.5 billion deal with Saudi Arabia in 2007 to supply 72 Typhoon jets, although the contract has been delayed over the cost.

Oman, which like Bahrain has close links to Britain, ordered 12 of the jets last year.

Bahrain sees its biggest threat from Iran, but Michael Stephens, a researcher at the Royal United Services Institute in Qatar, said there was little military need for the Typhoons to replace Bahrain’s ageing F-16 fighters.

Bahrain’s airspace was well defended by fighters from neighbouring Saudi Arabia and from the US Fifth Fleet based on the island. Tim Hancock, Amnesty International’s UK campaigns director, said: “Bahrain’s human-rights situation is appalling and it’s worrying that the UK appears to be taking a ‘business as usual’ approach to selling the country high-tech weaponry.”

A spokesman for UK Trade and Investment, said: “These discussions are still at a very early stage but we welcome the Bahraini interest. Bahrain would be a valuable addition to the Typhoon family.

“All of our defence exports are consistent with stringent internationally recognised criteria.”