Exports of Jaguar aircraft from UK to Qatar

This file relates to the sale of Jaguar aircraft by HMG to both Qatar and Saudi Arabia. It contains correspondence concerning:

• The ruler of Qatar Sheikh Khalifa Bin Hamad Al Thani’s desire to purchase six Jaguars, with the possibility of purchasing more, motivated by a review by the UK Ministry of Defence on the expansion of the Qatar Defence Force
• The enquiries from Saudi Arabia about purchasing Jaguar aircraft
• The need for HMG to consult with its partners in France as the Jaguar is an Anglo-French project; and the French agreement on giving a favourable offer to Qatar and Saudi Arabia, with conditions on resale and overflight of battlefield areas, particularly countries involved in the Arab-Israeli conflict
• The British Ambassador in Qatar E F Henderson’s concern over his French counterpart Paul Carton’s efforts to frustrate the deal with the Qataris
• The previous rejection of an Egyptian request for aircraft, and the difficulty that provision of aircraft to Saudi Arabia and Qatar might present in this regard
• Anglo-French talks on the Middle East held at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on 25 October 1972
• The equipment programme of the British Aircraft Corporation (BAC) and its involvement in negotiations in Qatar
• Rumours that the French are pressuring the Saudis to purchase Mirage F1 aircraft instead of the Jaguars