Pat,

An F-22 can shoot down any F-14 easily. Do you really think the Iranians can get any of those F-14s off the ground. Get real.

Mar, Washington, USA

Pat Hefferman is wrong when he says that the USA has nothing that could combat the F14 at long range. The F22 Raptor could take out an F14 without it's crew knowing that it was there. THe USAF's F15E Strike Eagle and the US Navy's F/A18E/F Super Hornet could both blow an Iranian F14 out of the sky but it's crew might just might have time to say a quick prayer or two.

Have a nice day..

W D Toulman, Walkington,

Some may think this is good for the UK but when you consider how little tax large defence companies pay and how great they are at claiming every avaiable govt grant and loan, the only people who should be celebrating are BAE's shareholders.

SERKAN BOSTAN, London , UK

Last October Tony Blair clearly did the wisest thing in calling-off the Investigation.
UK industry will now have enefit by taking this huge order from Saudi for airplanes and services.
It gives an incentive to our teenagers to become engineers.
Maybe one day we will be told the real reason why the UK Government had to stage that investigation in the first place anyway?

Michael Blatchford, Bath, UK

Surely the definition of any Armed Force is the "professional application of extreme violence".

The potential threat of application of this extreme violence is paradoxically what keeps the PEACE.

If the Kingdom of Saud wish to have this option then surely that is their choice and not Dan's in Oxford.

Dave, Lincoln, UK

Fantastic for business, probably great for me and the country I live in. But those aircraft are still specifically designed to murder human-beings as effectively as possible - I can't seem to get too carried away with the whole deal.

Nick, Reading, UK

We can thank Tony for this.

Rob, Brum, West Mids

Well done BAe, you managed to shift some metal. Here is an idea, take the rest of the Eurofighters that the RAF can't fly...you know the hundred odd they are going to mothball because there are not enough pilots, and sell them to the Saudi's. I am sure they can share the same hanger space with the Tornados you 'sold' them 20 years ago. Better their mothballs than ours. 24 will be built in Wharton.....put that into perspective. And why you are at it see if you can 'sell' them some of those nice pointy Destroyers the Navy like so much. They look just super tied up in dock. Ironic is having a navy with more Admirals than surface ships, and Airforce with more Air Marshals than squadrons and a foreign policy that is shaped by BAe systems.

bruce bettridge, st albans, UK

Pat Hefferman is wrong when he says that the USA have nothing to combat the F-14 (Tomcat) at long range. The F22 Raptor could take out an F14 before the F14's crew knew that it was there. The US Navy's F/A 18E/F Super Hornet could blow an F14 out of the sky but the F14s crew might just have time to say a few prayers. Have a nice day

W D Toulman, Walkington,

Good Luck BAE

Nicholas Iles, Oswestry, Shropshire

It is always a pleasure to see how smoothly things can evolve in a civilised country. Romanian official are always accused of being corrupt and they will never even dream of receiving such good bribes as SFO presumed were given to the Saudi officials. But, alas, we are a poor country and the poor should always be punished. When the amount of money given and taken is small, we cry out "bribe", when the sums have at least six zeros they are (very nicely and civil like) being called "an investment made for ensuring the well being of our country". It is truely patriotic to offer bribe with only one condition: to be a citizen of an important country, a developed one.

Cristi Barbu, Bucharest, Romania

When the fanatics take over Saudi Arabia, these 72 Typhoon jets are going to come in damned handy!

shirley bowen, Blackpool,

I am sure the Americans thought "A win all round" when they sold F-14 Tomcats and long range Phoenix missiles to friendly Iran back in the 70s....

Now the US have nothing that can combat the F-14 at long range.

Hope this deal doesnt come back to haunt.

Pat Heffernan, Galway, Rep. of Ireland

'The Typhoon deal will be called al-Salam, meaning “peace”.' Anybody else find that slightly ironic?

Dan Richardson, Oxford, UK

Fantasic news, it's good to see that despite the best attempts of some to scupper this project BAe has pulled it off.

Jobs secured, BAE in Warton protected, closer ties with a partner in the war against Islamic extremism. A win all round

Dave Rogers, London, UK