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BAE Systems wins $1.9bn of Boeing orders

LONDON: Britain's BAE Systems has won 1.2 billion pounds sterling ($1.91 billion) in military and civil orders from Seattle-based Boeing Co, a Sunday newspaper reported.

The Sunday Times said the British government will lease three C-17 large transporters from Boeing which will in turn ensure an "offset package" for BAE. The newspaper gave no further details.

But pointing to a potential trans-Atlantic rift, the newspaper also reported that the British government would confirm next week that it will buy missiles from BAE's joint venture with France's Aerospatiale Matra -- and not from U.S. manufacturer Raytheon -- to arm its Eurofighter combat jets.

The U.S. government has lobbied hard to persuade the British government to buy Raytheon's missiles in a defence contract valued at $1.6 billion.

European officials have warned that should Britain opt for Raytheon it could have dire consequences for Eurofighter, a $70 billion fighter programme developed by Britain, Germany, Italy and Spain.-Reuters