BAE Systems Saudi Arabia announced that it has invested 65 Million Saudi Riyals ($17 Million) with Advanced Electronics Systems (AEC) and Rockwell Collins Deutschland (RCD) to bring into Saudi Arabia the repair capability for the Cockpit Interface Unit (CIU) & Interface Processor Unit (IPU) key avionics boxes on the Typhoon Aircraft, the Royal Saudi Air Force’s (RSAF) and Salam Project Office’s latest and most advanced fast jet aircraft.

This repair capability is expected to be installed and commissioned in the AEC facilities in Riyadh in June 2014 with In Kingdom repairs for the CIU & IPU commencing shortly thereafter.

This investment with AEC and RCD will be followed up later this year with a further investment which will bring additional avionics repair capabilities to AEC.

Jim McDowell, Managing Director & CEO of BAE Systems Saudi Arabia, said: “BAE Systems is proud of its partnerships with the RSAF and Saudi Industry and these investments reinforce BAE Systems allegiance to industrialization which will see significant elements of the Typhoon Aircraft’s repair capabilities moving to Saudi Arabia providing long term employment of Saudi Nationals in a multitude of technical roles in the Typhoon supply chain”

Dr. Ghassan Shibl, CEO of AEC welcomed these investments saying that “these are important investments which demonstrate BAE Systems commitment to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and AEC which will introduce AEC into the supply chain for the RSAF’s Typhoon aircraft bringing repair capabilities into Saudi Arabia while creating new jobs”

Dr. Oliver Stucky, Director Programs, EuMEA Airborne Solutions, from Rockwell Collins Deutschland said: “This investment extends further the excellent relationships Rockwell Collins has with both BAE Systems and AEC and we look forward to working with both organizations to introduce more indigenous avionics capabilities to Saudi Arabia”.