KSA mulling order for naval destroyers

The Type 45 destroyer is designed to provide local area fleet defence and long range wide area defence.

Saudi Arabia is evaluating options for a massive strengthening of its naval capabilities that is expected to include orders for two, or even three, Type 45 destroyers.

BAE Systems and VT Group are bidding for the Saudi Arabian contract that is thought to be worth almost $4 billion.

Defending the shipping lanes of the Arabian Gulf is a key priority for Saudi Arabia and the wider world. 20% of the world's oil travels down the seaway, which is regularly patrolled by US, British and other foreign navies.

Type 45 destroyers have been developed for the British Royal Navy. They are designed to provide local area fleet defence, with long-range radar and wide area defence capability.

The ship's combat systems also have the capability to control aircraft and coordinate the anti-air warfare operations of the task force.

The Royal Navy's Type 45s will be equipped with long-range weapon systems to intercept air threats including super-agile manoeuvring missiles with re-attack modes.

A $4 billion order from Saudi Arabia will not be without controversy for BAE Systems, which was at the centre of a Serious Fraud Office investigation into a £10 billion deal to supply the Kingdom with Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft.

That investigation was recently dropped on orders from the British government on the grounds that evidence was weak,

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