UK arms sales to Kuwait

This file concerns arms sales from the UK to Kuwait during 1974. It contains correspondence on:

• The prospective sale of Chieftain Tanks to Kuwait, including reference to HMG’s efforts to find a way of transporting Chieftain Tanks to Kuwait for a demonstration
• The sale of aircraft to Kuwait, including cuttings from the French newspaper Le Monde regarding Kuwait’s plans to buy French [Mirage], US [Phantom] and British [Jaguar] aircraft, and a 'Memorandum of Understanding' between the Governments of Kuwait and Britain on the security safeguards necessary to protect classified information about the Jaguar aircraft and associated systems
• Kuwait’s interest in: Westland commando helicopters, armed patrol crafts designed by Vosper Thornycroft Limited, hovercrafts and cluster bombs; and HMG’s refusal to supply countries outside NATO with cluster bombs
• The proposed sale of the Locust Weapon System to Kuwait
• Combat clothing designed in the UK being delivered to Kuwait in a poor condition
• HMG’s desire to sell Rapier missiles to Kuwait and Swingfire missiles to Saudi Arabia; and a 'Memorandum of Understanding' between the Governments of Kuwait and Britain on the security safeguards necessary to protect classified information about the Rapier weapon system
• The British Hovercraft Company’s tour around the Middle East in February 1974 to conduct a series of demonstrations
• Speculations that the Kuwaitis are planning to purchase arms from the Soviet Union
• The desire of the US to sell arms to the Gulf States
• An itinerary of the presentations and demonstrations of British arms taking place in Kuwait in January and February 1974