UK defence sales to Saudi Arabia: Tornado aircraft

This file concerns an agreement for Saudi Arabia to buy combat aircraft from the UK. It contains background briefing documents, correspondence and the text of 'Letter of Offer and Acceptance' numbers 1, 3 and 6, referring to:

• A £3-billion deal for 48 Tornado IDS, 30 Hawk trainers, and 30 Pilatus PC9 trainers, financed on an arms-for-oil basis, with British Aerospace (BAE) as the prime contractor
• A request from Jordan for use of 18 of the Saudi Tornados
• Opposition to the deal from UK constituents, with replies from the Foreign Secretary Geoffrey Howe and the Minister of State Tim Renton
• Opposition to the deal from US Congressmen, including a joint letter from Mel Levin and Benjamin Gilman and a reply from the HM Ambassador J O Wright; and a letter with the signatures of Tom Lantos, John Edward Porter, and 49 other Congressmen
• The licencing of US components for use in the Tornado
• The ‘fury’ of the Energy Secretary Peter Walker at his late introduction to the negotiations for the deal
• An expression of interest from Saudi Arabia to buy 24 Tornado ADV aircraft, in addition to the 48 Tornado IDS
• The training of Saudi aircrew
• The arming of the Tornados with Sky Flash missiles
• An article in the Observer about alleged bribes taken by the sons of King Fahd Bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud, a Saudi statement of denial, the displeasure of King Fahd at the article, and his letter of appreciation to the Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and Defence Secretary Michael Heseltine for their reaction to it.

The file also refers to opposition to the invitation for a visit to the UK from a joint Palestinian-Jordanian delegation, including the opposition of the US Congressmen, and a letter from Mrs Thatcher to Michael Heseltine mentioning the Conservative Friends of Israel.