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Joint Saudi-U.K. Deal to Build Vehicles in Gulf - Defense News
LONDON - A small British company has secured a deal with Saudi Arabia's ERAF Industries to jointly develop and build its family of Zephyr multirole machines in the gulf nation. The two companies are hoping the tie-up will lead to a deal with the Saudi military to acquire the vehicle.
The arrangement on the Zephyr platform, designed by the firm Creation UK, will mark ERAF's debut in the construction of new vehicles. ERAF is a leading Saudi armored vehicle upgrade and refurbishment specialist.
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In a statement, Creation UK parent company Penman announced the Anglo-Saudi industrial partnership will involve technology transfer to allow the development and building of vehicles for tri-service applications for the local military.
No deal has been signed by the Saudi government for Zephyr although a requirement for this class of vehicle exists, said a Penman spokesman.
The initial focus is the building and delivery to ERAF by the end of this year of a four-wheel-drive configured to local requirements. Delivery of a six-wheel-drive variant will follow in 2012.
The Zephyr has been under development for almost five years and was an early contender for the British Army's light protected patrol vehicle program, a contest eventually secured by Force Protection with its Ocelot design.
So far, Hampshire, England-based Creation UK has configured production-ready vehicles around protected patrol vehicle requirements, although the platform can also be used for applications such as a light logistics carrier, command and control, reconnaissance, battlefield ambulance and other specialist roles.
LONDON - A small British company has secured a deal with Saudi Arabia's ERAF Industries to jointly develop and build its family of Zephyr multirole machines in the gulf nation. The two companies are hoping the tie-up will lead to a deal with the Saudi military to acquire the vehicle.
The arrangement on the Zephyr platform, designed by the firm Creation UK, will mark ERAF's debut in the construction of new vehicles. ERAF is a leading Saudi armored vehicle upgrade and refurbishment specialist.
RELATED TOPICS
Europe
Middle East & Africa
Land Warfare
In a statement, Creation UK parent company Penman announced the Anglo-Saudi industrial partnership will involve technology transfer to allow the development and building of vehicles for tri-service applications for the local military.
No deal has been signed by the Saudi government for Zephyr although a requirement for this class of vehicle exists, said a Penman spokesman.
The initial focus is the building and delivery to ERAF by the end of this year of a four-wheel-drive configured to local requirements. Delivery of a six-wheel-drive variant will follow in 2012.
The Zephyr has been under development for almost five years and was an early contender for the British Army's light protected patrol vehicle program, a contest eventually secured by Force Protection with its Ocelot design.
So far, Hampshire, England-based Creation UK has configured production-ready vehicles around protected patrol vehicle requirements, although the platform can also be used for applications such as a light logistics carrier, command and control, reconnaissance, battlefield ambulance and other specialist roles.
