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Boeing Announces Deals with Riyadh for Chinook Helicopters, P-8 Surveillance Aircraft | ASHARQ AL-AWSAT English Archive 2005 -2017
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The Boeing logo is seen on a Boeing 787 Dreamliner airplane in Long Beach, California March 14, 2012. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson


Riyadh – Boeing Co. announced on Sunday the signing of several defense and commercial deals with Saudi Arabia including the sale of military and passenger aircraft along with Chinook helicopters at the presence of Custodian of Two Holy Mosques King Salman and US President Donald Trump.

Boeing said Saudi Arabia agreed to buy Chinook helicopters, associated support services and guided weapons systems, and intends to purchase P-8 surveillance aircraft.

The company also said it would negotiate the sale of up to 16 wide body airplanes to Saudi Gulf Airlines, based in Dammam.

Boeing Chief Executive Officer Dennis Muilenburg, who participated in the Saudi-US CEO Forum, stated that these announcements reaffirm the company’s commitment to the economic growth, prosperity and national security of both Saudi Arabia and the United States, helping to create or sustain thousands of jobs in both countries.

Boeing also will establish a joint venture with Saudi Arabia to provide sustainment services for a wide range of military platforms including non-Boeing supplied equipment. A separate joint venture would “provide support for both military and commercial helicopters,” the company’s statement added.

“Our decades-long partnership with the Kingdom began in 1945 when President Roosevelt presented a DC-3 to King Abdul Aziz Al Saud, launching commercial air travel in the region. We welcome the opportunity to continue that support. I appreciate the efforts of King Salman, President Trump and his administration to support American manufacturers as we seek to grow at home and around the world,” explained Muilenburg.