Story ID: 
British Arms Sales To Saudi Arabia Questioned
By: Chris Pocock
Caption: Civilian casualties in the Yemen conflict have prompted another call to re-examine dealings that are significant for BAE Systems.
Word Count: 406
As the conflict in Yemen drags on, with airstrikes by a Saudi-led coalition continuing amidst continued reports of civilian casualties, a British parliamentary committee this week suggested that the UK suspend arms sales to Saudi Arabia, after concluding that international humanitarian law (IHL) is being breached in the country. Recent financial reporting by BAE Systems makes clear that the company would be seriously affected by any such move.

Recent developments in Operation Restoring Hope have included the use of Saudi or UAE AH-64 Apache helicopters to attack Al Qaida militants in southern Yemen. There had previously been no reporting of airstrikes against this terrorist group by the Saudi-led coalition, which has focused its effort on the Houthi rebels who, backed by Iran, have challenged the Yemeni government. However, in late March the U.S. conducted at least six airstrikes against Al Qaida in southern Yemen.

There has also been confirmation by satellite imagery that the United Arab Emirates has based some of its Iomax AT-802 ArchAngel turboprop strike aircraft at a southern Saudi airbase.

BAE Systems reported sales worth £3.76 billion to Saudi Arabia last year—21 percent of its total revenue, and exceeded only by the U.S. (36 percent) and the UK (23 percent). It has 5,700 employees in Saudi Arabia, mainly supporting Royal Saudi Air Force (RSAF) PC-21, Hawk, Tornado and Typhoon operations. The company said that the RSAF “has achieved high utilization and aircraft availability across its Typhoon and Tornado fleets, operating under demanding conditions.” By the end of last year, BAE Systems had delivered 57 of the 72 Typhoons ordered by the RSAF, and the company has long hoped for a repeat order. It sold a further 22 Hawk advanced jet trainers to the RSAF last year, making 44 AJTs in total.

The International Development Committee of the UK House of Commons said it heard “growing evidence of indiscriminate bombing by the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen.” It noted that the UK had granted export licenses for nearly £3 billion ($4.2 billion) of arms sales to Saudi Arabia in the past six months, including bombs, rockets and missiles. Government ministers told the committee that the UK “is not a party to this conflict” and that “Saudi Arabia remains genuinely committed to IHL compliance.” The British Foreign Secretary told Parliament last January that the UK had a small military presence in Saudi Arabia that was helping “to ensure that target sets are correctly identified.”