Al Yamamah

Al Yamamah (the Arabic Pigeon), is the name given to a series of sale contracts of armament concluded between the the United Kingdom and the Saudi Arabia since 1985.

Contracts

The exact terms of these contracts are remained confidential, but it is estimated that the first contract envisaged the delivery and the maintenance of 96 Panavia Tornado in its version of attack, like 48 in its version of air defense, as 48 planes of attack and drive BAe Hawk, like 50 Pilatus PC-9. this first contract envisaged also the delivery of buildings of surface and infrastructures.

In August 2006, a contract preserving same the methods was concluded for the delivery from 72 planes Eurofighter Typhoon.

Method

These contracts have a series of characteristics in common:

British Aerospace repurchases the Saoudi apparatuses replaced by the new sale
the payments are carried out in kind on the basis of oil delivery

Recent allegations of corruption give a report on clauses envisaging the payment by British Aerospace of retro commissions for the benefit of family members royal Saoudi. The official investigation launched to the United Kingdom was arrétée to preserve the national interest in December 2006 by the government of Tony Blair. However, a recent investigation of BBC and newspaper The Guardian affirm that the prince Bandar, who had taken part in the negotiation of the initial contract, would have been the recipient of a sum of £10 billion spread out over more than 10 years.

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