Hugh Trevor describes the career of the Lightning with the Kuwait Air Force and speaks to the British pilots who delivered the jets and assisted the Kuwaitis in operating them
The Lightning F.1 interceptor fighter entered RAF service in 1960, but export success was elusive until December 1965 when it was announced that Saudi Arabia would place a contract for an air defence system to include 40 Lightnings and 25 Strikemasters – at that time the largest UK export order ever received.
The sales efforts of English Electric, later the British Aircraft Corporation (BAC), intensified and in December 1966 Kuwait signed up for 14 Lightnings (12 F.53K fighters and two T.55K operational trainers) plus 12 Strikemasters. The UK would also provide flying instructors, weapons instructors and other support.
