Saudi Arabian air defence scheme

This file is part B of a series of files relating to the Saudi Arabian Air Defence Scheme (SAADS), where the Saudi Arabian Government signed a letter of intent, agreeing to buy aircrafts, training, maintenance and military equipment from three British companies overseen by HMG. These companies, known collectively as the Saudi Arabian Defence Consortium (SADC), are: British Aircraft Corporation Limited (BAC), Associated Electrical Industries (AEI) and Airwork Services Limited. This file contains correspondence and memoranda relating to:

• The negotiations between HMG and Saudi Arabia regarding the formation of a Ministry of Defence advisory team under a government-to-government agreement for future support of the SAADS
• HMG's intentions not to allow its personnel to get involved in another nation's affairs
• BAC's takeover of Airwork's accommodation on a interim basis, including the Deputy Minister of Defence and Aviation Prince Turki Bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud's wish to pay HMG and not Airwork direct for Airwork's three month notice period
• The negotiations between HMG and Saudi Arabia concerning 'Statements of Work' (SoW)
• Payment arrangements for work done in connection with the SAADS
• The Royal Saudi Air Force's intention to begin firing programmes in Dhahran and Khamis Mushait
• The serviceability of Lightning aircraft in Saudi Arabia
• The US team for government-to-government negotiations on the Saudi Arabian National Guard's arrival in Saudi Arabia
• A meeting held by the Loan Service Steering Committee on 12 February 1973

This file also contains summaries, drafts, negotiations, briefs and notes relating to a proposed ‘Memorandum of Understanding’ (MoU) between HMG and Saudi Arabia regarding the status of British forces, including reference to:

• Transport expenses
• Accommodation, messing and servants
• A hostilities clause
• Financial annexes
• Officers being granted legal status and immunities equivalent to those which are usually granted to experts of international organisations in Saudi Arabia

This file also contains a copy of an agreement between the US and Saudi Arabia, titled 'Defence: Construction of Military Facilities', signed at Jeddah on 5 June 1965.