Kuwait's delayed deal to buy 28 Eurofighter jets may be signed Tuesday, an Italian source knowledgeable of the deal said Monday.

The source said that Italian Defense Minister Roberta Pinotti was due to fly to Kuwait on Monday, where the signing may occur.

Kuwait's purchase of the aircraft was first agreed to last September and due to be signed by year end, but that was delayed.

Italy, which is one of the four industrial partners on the Eurofighter program alongside the UK, Spain and Germany, has taken the lead in marketing the aircraft to Kuwait.

Pinotti was likely to be joined in Kuwait by Mauro Moretti, CEO of Italian defense firm Finmeccanica, which handles Italy's industrial contribution on the program.

Kuwait has agreed to buy 22 single-seat and six twin-seat Typhoons in a government-to-government agreement.

Industry sources have said the deal, which could be worth up to 8 billion euros, could see the Kuwaitis become the first export customer for the active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar being developed for the jet.

The aircraft are expected to be new-build, third tranche, swing role versions of the fighter, with deliveries starting in 2019 and possibly covering munitions such as the Storm Shadow and Meteor.

An Italian source has said that over 50 percent of the value of the Eurofighter deal in Kuwait would be earned by Finmeccanica, which assembles the aircraft but also provides systems.

Email: tkington@defensenews.com

Tom Kington is the Italy correspondent for Defense News.

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