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Royal Saudi Air Force
Air warfare branch of Saudi Arabia's military

The Royal Saudi Air Force (RSAF), part of the Saudi Arabian Armed Forces, has evolved from a defensive force into one with advanced offensive capabilities. It operates wings, squadrons, and a special forces unit for combat search and rescue. The RSAF maintains the second largest fleet of F-15 Eagles after the USAF, which form its backbone alongside the Panavia Tornado. Many aircraft were procured through the Al Yamamah contracts with British Aerospace (now BAE Systems). The 1990s saw orders for Sea Eagle anti-ship missiles, laser-guided, and gravity bombs, while the Eurofighter Typhoon will be added under the Al-Salam deal.

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History

The Royal Saudi Air Force was formed in the mid-1920s with British assistance from the remains of the Hejaz Air Force.1 It was initially equipped with Westland Wapiti IIA general purpose aircraft flown by pilots who had served Ali of Hejaz but had been pardoned by the Saudi king.2

Following a contract with the British government, which was concluded in 1937, a military airstrip at Jeddah was established in 1939. The military airstrip was where the Air Force was stationed. In 1949, a group of aviation students were sent to study in England, after completing training at Al-Houba. By 1950, a second group of students were sent. The Air Force was re-organized in 1950 and began to receive American assistance from 1952 including the use of Dhahran Airfield by the United States Air Force. In 1951, the group of aviation students returned to form the Royal Saudi Air Force. On November 5, 1952, the Air Force’s flag was raised at a military hangar in Jeddah Airport, which was attended by His Royal Highness Prince Mishaal bin Abdulaziz, Minister of Defense and Aviation at the time. Shortly afterwards, Air Force schools begun opening around the kingdom. Early aircraft used by the RSAF included the Caproni Ca.100, Albatros D.III, Armstrong Whitworth F.K.8, Farman MF.11 Airco DH.9, dH 82 Tiger Moth, Westland Wapiti, Avro Anson, Douglas C-47, and the Douglas B-26 Invader. In 1957, the Royal Saudi Air Force begun major developments, including the establishments of 5 Squadrons, all based at Jeddah Airport. The transportation squadron was equipped with Douglas C-54 Skymasters and Fokker S-13s. The No.2 Squadron was equipped with Douglas B-26 Invaders and the No.5 Squadron was equipped with 20 De Havilland Vampires.3

As part of the Magic Carpet arms deal between the United Kingdom and Saudi Arabia, four single-seat Hawker Hunter F.6s and two Hunter T.7s were ordered from Hawker in 1966. The aircraft were delivered to No. 6 Squadron at Khamis Mushayt Airbase in May 1966. Although the Hunters were operational, following attacks on Saudi Arabia by the Egyptian Air Force they were not a success as interceptors as they lacked any ground control but were used for ground attack. One single-seat aircraft was lost in 1967 and the remaining aircraft were presented to Jordan in 1968.

The Saudi forces are equipped with mainly western equipment. Main suppliers to the RSAF are companies based in the United Kingdom and the United States. Both the UK and the US are involved in training programs conducted in Saudi Arabia.

During the 1980s and 1990s, the armed forces of Saudi Arabia were relatively small by Middle Eastern standards. Its strength however was derived from advanced technology. The backbone of the strike / ground attack force is formed by ca 70 Tornados (a second batch of 48 Tornado IDS were ordered in 1993 under the al-Yamamah II program), and 72 F-15S aircraft delivered from the mid-1990s that operate beside the remnants of more than 120 F-15C/D aircraft delivered starting in 1981. Pilot training is executed on the Pilatus PC-21 and BAE Hawk. The C-130 Hercules is the mainstay of the transport fleet and is assisted by CN-235s and Raytheon King Air 350 light transports. Reconnaissance is performed by Tornadoes and F-15s equipped with the DJRP electro-optical reconnaissance pod. The Boeing E-3A is the Airborne Early Warning platform operated by No. 18 Squadron RSAF.

The VIP support fleet consists of a wide variety of civil registered aircraft such as the Airbus A330, Airbus A320, 737 and 747, Lockheed Tri-Stars, MD11s and G1159A as well as Lockheed L-100-30. The HZ- prefix used in the civilian registrations of these aircraft derived from the former name of the territory (Hejaz).

From 1989 to 1991 three Lockheed C-130 Hercules of the RSAF were destroyed in accidents.

The September 1991 issue of Air Forces Monthly lists Nos 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 (Tornado IDS), 8, 9, 10, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 21, 22, 29 Squadron (Dhahran with Tornado ADVs); 34, 37, 42, and 66 Squadrons.4

Purchases during the 2000s

The Al Yamamah contract was controversial because of the alleged bribes associated with its award. Nonetheless, the RSAF announced its intention to purchase the Typhoon from BAE Systems in December 2005. On 18 August 2006, a memorandum of understanding was signed for 72 aircraft in a GB£6–10 billion deal.5

Following this order, the investigation of the Al Yamamah contract was suppressed by the British prime minister Tony Blair in December 2006, citing "strategic interests" of the UK. On 17 September 2007 Saudi Arabia announced it had signed a £4.4bn deal with BAE Systems for 72 Typhoons.6

On 29 December 2011, the United States signed a $29.4 billion deal to sell 84 F-15s in the SA (Saudi Advanced) configuration. The sale includes upgrades for the older F-15s up to the SA standard and related equipment and services.7

On 23 May 2012, the British defence firm BAE Systems agreed to sell 22 BAE Hawk advanced jet trainer aircraft to the Royal Saudi Air Force for a total of £1.9 billion ($3 billion). The deal also included simulators, ground and training equipment and spares.8 In April 2013, BAE Systems delivered the first two new Typhoons of 24 to Saudi Arabia.

In 2013, the USAF tendered an offer for security services to protect the Saudi air force from cyberwarfare attacks.9

In March 2021, RSAF started a joint military exercise, that will last until April 10, with the US and Pakistani Air Forces that will help in exchanging experiences and expertise.10

Structure

The RSAF is divided into nine Wings that are dispersed across seven Air Bases:

Squadrons

Other Squadrons:

  • 11 Squadron (OUT OF SERVICE)
  • 15 Squadron (OUT OF SERVICE)
  • 25 Squadron (OUT OF SERVICE) (Bell 412)
  • 30 Squadron (OUT OF SERVICE) (Helicopters)
  • 41 Squadron (OUT OF SERVICE) (King Air 350 Aerial Reconnaissance)
  • 42 Squadron (OUT OF SERVICE) (F-15C and F-15D)
  • 66 Squadron (OUT OF SERVICE) (Tornado IDS)

Inventory

AircraftOriginTypeVariantIn serviceNotes
Combat aircraft
Eurofighter TyphoonItaly / UK / Germanymultirole7116
Panavia TornadoItaly / UK / GermanymultiroleIDS8117employs variable-sweep wing design
F-15E Strike EagleUnited Statesstrike fighterF-15C/S/SA21018
F-15 EagleUnited Statesconversion trainerF-15D2119
AWACS
Boeing E-3United StatesAEWE/RE -3A620one used for SIGINT / ELINT missions
Saab 2000SwedenAEW&C2000 AEW&C221
Aerial refueling
Boeing KC-707United Statesaerial refueling722
KC-130 HerculesUnited Statestanker / transportKC-130H723
Airbus A330 MRTTSpaintanker / transportKC-30A624
KC-130 Super HerculesUnited Statesaerial refuelingKC-130J225
Transport
Gulfstream IVUnited StatesVIP transport226
BAE JetstreamUnited KingdomVIP transport31127
Cessna Citation IIUnited StatesVIP transportBravo428
Super King AirUnited Statestransport350155 used for reconnaissance – 4 on order29
C-130 HerculesUnited Statestactical airlifterC-130H3330
Helicopters
Bell 212United Statesutility2431
Bell 412United Statesutility1632
Sikorsky UH-60United StatesutilityUH-60L233
Eurocopter AS332Franceutility / SAR133 on order34
Trainer aircraft
BAE HawkUnited Kingdomadvanced trainer65/A

/165s

8110 on order35
Pilatus PC-21Switzerlandadvanced trainer5536
Cirrus SR22United Stateslight trainer2537
PAC MFI-17 MushshakPakistanprimary trainer2038

Retired

Previous aircraft operated included the F-86F Sabre, dH 100 Vampire FB.52, BAC Strikemaster Mk 80, DHC-1 Chipmunk Mk 10, C-54A Skymaster, C-123B Provider, T-6A Texan, T-33A Shooting Star, Cessna 310, O-1 Bird Dog, T-35A Buckaroo, T-34A Mentor, OH-58A Kiowa, T-28A Trojan, F-5 Tiger II, Lockheed JetStar, dH Comet 4C (VIP transport), BAe 146, Alouette III, BAC Lightning3940

Drones

Saudi Arabia is one of the largest countries that owns unmanned aerial vehicles, including attack, surveillance, and reconnaissance. In 2012, Saudi Arabia purchased 50 Italian Selex Galileo Falco drones. In 2014, Saudi Arabia signed a contract with China to purchase Wing Loong drones, and Saudi Arabia has more to receive so far.

In April 2013, Saudi Arabia announced its desire to buy 6 Turkish TAI Anka drones, however these efforts fell through.

Saudi Arabia has pursued projects to manufacture national drones, the first of which was in 2012, when Saudi Arabia announced a program to manufacture drones in the King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology. The project was called Saqr, and 3 new models of the drone have been introduced. Saudi Arabia also announced a new drone called Samoom, the Saudi crown prince showcased the new drone to the Egyptian President Abdul-Fattah As-Sisi during which he showed significant interest in it.

Saudi Arabia also announced in 2021 that it will start producing a high capability drone called SkyGuard. It also established a laboratory for robotic vehicle research at the Prince Sultan Advanced Technology Research Institute at King Saud University. The laboratory aims to build and transfer technology in the field of smart vehicles of all kinds, such as unmanned aircraft, autonomous land vehicles, and others. The laboratory has manufactured many unmanned aircraft, and the aircraft are still undergoing research and development.

Saudi Arabia has started technology transfer projects and joint ventures with countries to manufacture drones. The General organization for Military Industries obtained a license to manufacture the German drone project Luna, manufacturing hundreds of them for the Saudi armed forces. Saudi Arabia also entered a joint venture with South Africa to manufacture the Seeker 400 UCAV.

In 2023, Saudi Arabia and Baykar has signed a contract for AKINCI UCAV export. The amount was not declared but hinted that it is the biggest export at once. SSB President Görgün, who made a statement about the contract in question, said, “The largest Turkish defence industry export, made at once, is over three billion dollars.”41

Commanders

The following officers have been commanders of the RSAF:

  1. Captain Abdullah al-Mandili
  2. Major Rashid al-Saleh
  3. Major Gen. Ibrahim al-Tassan (1950–1966)
  4. Major Gen. Hashim bin Said Hashim (1966–1972)
  5. Lt. Gen. Asaad al-Zuhair (1972–1980)
  6. Lt. Gen. Mohammed Sabri Suleiman (1980–1984)
  7. Lt. Gen. Abdullah bin AbdulAziz al-Hamdan (1984–1987)
  8. Lt. Gen. Ahmed Ibrahim Behery (1987 – March 1996)
  9. Lt. Gen. Abdul Aziz bin Mohammad Al-Henadi (March 1996 – 4 April 2004)
  10. Lt. Gen. Prince Abdulrahman Al-Faisal (4 April 2004 – 16 June 2010)42
  11. Lt. Gen. Mohammed Al-Ayesh (16 June 2010 – 10 May 2013)43
  12. Lt. Gen. Fayyadh Al Ruwaili (10 May 2013 – 14 May 2014)4445
  13. Lt. Gen. Muhammad Al Shaalan (14 May 2014 – 10 June 2015)46
  14. Major Gen. Mohammed al-Otaibi (10 June 2015 – 26 February 2018)474849
  15. Lt. Gen. Turki bin Bandar (26 February 2018 – present)50

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Royal Saudi Air Force.

References

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