By Ben Chapman
BAE Systems has disclosed it is in talks to secure a multi-billion pound arms contract with Saudi Arabia, despite alleged war crimes by the Middle Eastern kingdom using British-made weapons in war-torn Yemen.
Last month MPs called for a halt to British arms exports to Saudi Arabia pending an investigation into reported breaches of humanitarian and human rights law using British-made weapons.
In a report seen by BBC’s Newsnight’s Gabriel Gatehouse, The Committees on Arms Export Controls said: "The weight of evidence of violations of international humanitarian law by the Saudi-led coalition is now so great, that it is very difficult to continue to support Saudi Arabia."
The Saudi-led coalition has opened investigations into a number of incidents and has repeatedly stated it is "is committed to full respect for international humanitarian law in the conduct of our operations in Yemen".
The current contract is a five-year program between BAE, the UK government and Saudi Arabia. Under the deal, BAE, which relies on the Saudi regime for more than one fifth of its revenues provides training, support and upgrades for its Hawk aircraft. BAE also hopes to sell 48 Eurofighter Typhoon jets for a reported £4 billion under a separate deal.
BAE also announced it was trading in line with expectations and its outlook for the year remained unchanged, with the company predicted to register a 5-10 per cent rise in earnings.
"Discussions with current and prospective operators of Typhoon aircraft continue to support group’s expectations for additional contract awards," BAE said.
The UK has been one of the biggest suppliers of weapons to the Saudi regime for 40 years, including the notorious Al-Yamamah deal.
BAE was ordered to pay a $400 million under a plea bargain with the US Justice Department in 2010 after what was described by the presiding judge as, "deception, duplicity and knowing violations of law, I think it’s fair to say, on an enormous scale".
A new deal would be a lifeline for aircraft factories in the North East of England. Last year, BAE was forced to cut 371 jobs last year as it scaled back production of its Typhoon jets from £1.3 billion to £1.1 billion.
However, in July it won a £2.1 billion support services agreement with the Ministry of Defense and this week was awarded a further £1.3 billion contract to build the replacement for the Trident nuclear submarines.
Source: Independent, Edited by Website Team
