SAUDI TORNADO UPGRADE APPEARS ASSURED

LONDON [MENL] -- Saudi Arabia was expected to launch a major project to modernize its British-origin Tornado strike aircraft fleet. Industry sources said BAE Systems was certain to win a contract from theSaudi Defense Ministry for the Tornado upgrade by 2006. The sourcessaid the ministry has been pleased by the development of three Tornado IDSstrike aircraft prototypes and could approve a modernization project of more than 80platforms.