From 15 to 17 July, a Eurofighter prepared for delivery to the Kuwait Air Force is showcased at The Royal International Air Tattoo 2022
Guido Sibona, the Vice President of Leonardo’s Eurofighter Programme, stated: “I’m immensely proud to see Kuwaiti Air Force Eurofighter represented here in RIAT, recognized as one of the most prestigious Air Shows globally. The Eurofighter Typhoons developed and delivered for the Kuwait Air Force are the most sophisticated within the entire European program. Collaborating with the Italian Air Force, we are equipping the nation with an outstanding air defense capability and have constructed state-of-the-art facilities in Kuwait to support and sustain a fleet of 28 aircraft.”
Col. Pil. Eisa Alrashidi, Commander of the 7th Squadron (KAF), remarked: “The Kuwait Air Force is participating in the Royal International Air Tattoo for the first time since 1993, when we operated the F/A-18C. We’re extremely proud to return this year with the most advanced Eurofighter Typhoon in existence. The capabilities of this platform elevate the Kuwaiti Air Force to one of the best-equipped air forces in the region. We anticipate commencing the OCU in Kuwait by the end of 2022, with the assistance of the Italian Air Force and Leonardo in establishing a premier pilot training center for Kuwait.”
This multi-role fighter aircraft features an array of capabilities, complementing previous enhancements to the Typhoon, including the Captor-E (E-scan) radar and various advancements in the weapon systems, propelling the Kuwait Air Force to the forefront of fighter technology.
On 5 April 2016, an agreement was finalized between the Ministry of Defence of the State of Kuwait and Leonardo (acting as the Prime Contractor Organization). This marked a significant achievement for the Eurofighter Consortium, the partner companies, and the nation’s strategic interests.
The accord with the Kuwait MoD also encompasses services to maximize the Eurofighter fleet’s operations, including the design and construction of the necessary infrastructure at Al-Salem Air Base in Kuwait and comprehensive logistics support services. This entails the provision of equipment and a cutting-edge training center for both aircrew and ground crew, utilizing the latest simulators to establish an effective pilot Operational Conversion Unit in Kuwait.
The Eurofighter Kuwait programme is advancing as anticipated, with notable success regarding deliveries. Soon, two additional aircraft will be handed over by Leonardo to the Kuwait Air Force, increasing the fleet size to six.
