DTN News - SAUDI ARABIA DEFENSE NEWS: Saudi Arabia Plans To Buy More American Weaponry

DTN News - SAUDI ARABIA DEFENSE NEWS: Saudi Arabia Plans To Buy More American Weaponry

Source: DTN News - - This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources Ria Novosti

(NSI News Source Info) KOTTAKKAL, Kerala, India - October 11, 2011: Saudi Arabia is planning to reach an agreement with the United States on the purchase of artillery systems worth $186 million, Arabian website Elaf said citing a high-ranking source in the Saudi government.

Last month the parties agreed on the details of the upcoming deal, according to which Washington would supply 36 155-mm guns and 54 105-mm guns, the source said.

In October 2010, U.S. President Barack Obama announced the largest arms exports contract in the history of the country. The United States will supply various types of weapons to Saudi Arabia worth $60 billion.

The orders include 84 new F-15 fighter jets and a contract to upgrade 70 F-15s already in service with the Saudi air force. Washington will also deliver 70 Apache helicopters, 72 Black Hawk helicopters, 36 Little Birds and 12 MD-530F helicopters, and a wide range of rockets, bombs and other equipment.

Royal Saudi Air Force Current Aircraft Inventory (Courtesy Wikipedia)

RSAF Eurofighter Typhoon

An RSAF Tornado F3 during Operation Desert Storm

RSAF AH-64 Apache

Boeing F-15S Eagle, the strike fighter of the RSAF

Royal Saudi Arabian Air Force pilot adjusts his oxygen mask while in the cockpit of an F-5 Tiger II aircraft prior to flying a training mission.

British Aerospace Hawk in 2011

on 11 Agust 2011 , Royal air force receive 24 Typhoon from Uk air force (Taif Airbase) On 12 August 2009, UPI reported that Saudi Arabia was seeking upgrades for their E-3 fleet and aerial refuelling tanker aircraft.^[4]

In October 2010, a large new helicopter purchase was reported; the RSAF plans to buy 72 UH-60M, 36 AH-6I, 36 AH-64D, 12 MD530helicopters and parts. The request has not yet been approved.^[5]

[edit]Combat aircraft

Aircraft	Origin	Role	Versions	In service	Notes
Fighter Aircraft
Boeing F-15SE Silent Eagle	United States	Fighter	SA	None	On order.^[6]^[7] Although the exact variant is unspecified, the RSAF are reported to be interested in the Silent Eagle.
Boeing F-15 Eagle	United States	Fighter	C D	80 25
Boeing F-15E Strike Eagle	United States	Strike fighter	S	72
Panavia Tornado IDS	United Kingdom European Union	Ground Attack		87	Being upgraded at a cost of $4.66 billion.
Panavia Tornado ADV	United Kingdom European Union	Fighter		24	To be withdrawn from service & shipped to the UK in a buy back package part of the Al Salam deal for 72 Typhoon F2.
Northrop F-5 Freedom Fighter II	United States	Fighter	E F	83 37	Withdrawn from frontline service aside from the training role, some squadrons such as #10 based in Taif will be replaced with the Eurofighter Typhoon.
Eurofighter Typhoon	European Union	Fighter	T.2 T.3A	24 48	A further 72 may be ordered, 48 will be assembled in Saudi Arabia
Trainer Aircraft
BAe Hawk	European Union	Advanced Trainer	Mk. 65 Mk. 65A	30 20
BAe Jetstream	United Kingdom	Trainer	31	2
Super Mushshaaq	Pakistan	Trainer	-	20
Pilatus PC-9	Switzerland	Trainer	-	50
Reims Cessna F172	European Union	Trainer	G H M	16
Transport Aircraft
Airbus A340	France	Transport	A340-213	1	Royal Flight
Airbus A330	France	Transport & refuelling	MRTT	6	On order.^[8]
BAe 125	United Kingdom	Transport	B	4	Royal Flight
Boeing 747	United States	VIP Transport	747-300 747SP	2	Royal Flight
Boeing 757	United States	Medical Transport	-	1
Boeing Business Jet	United States	Transport	BBJ1 BBJ2	1 1	Royal Flight
Boeing E-3 Sentry	United States	AWACS		5	seeking upgrades
Boeing KE-3A	United States	Airborne Refuelling	A	8	Being upgraded & then replaced by A330 MRRT
CASA CN-235	European Union	Transport	M-10	4	Royal Flight
Cessna 550 Citation	United States	Transport	C550	4	Royal Flight
Gates Learjet 35	United States	Transport	A	2	Both transferred to the Royal Saudi Armed Forces Medical Wing in July 2009
Gulfstream III	United States	Transport	-	2
Gulfstream V	United States	Medical Transport	-	2
Lockheed C-130 Hercules	United States	Transport Airborne Refuelling VIP Transport	E/H KC-130H VC-130H	30 7 5
Lockheed L-100	United States	Transport	L-100-30	6
McDonnell Douglas MD-11	United States	Transport	MD-11	1	Royal Flight
Transport Helicopters
Agusta-Bell 212	Italy European Union	Transport Helicopter	-	27
Agusta-Bell AS-61	European Union	Transport Helicopter	A-4	3	Royal Flight
Bell 205	United States	Transport Helicopter	-	24
Bell 412	United States	Transport Helicopter	EP	2
Eurocopter AS-532 Cougar	European Union France	Combat Search and Rescue	M	12
Eurocopter AS365 Dauphin	European Union France	Naval Helicopter Medical Helicopter	F N	24	The SA-365F variants are operated by Royal Saudi Naval Aviation.
Eurocopter SA-332 Super Puma	European Union France	Naval Helicopter	F	13	Operated by Royal Saudi Naval Aviation.
Kawasaki-Vertol 107	Japan United States	Transport Helicopter	-	18	Operated by the Ministry of the Interior
Total :				+1009	Including the 72 Eurofighter Typhoon + 72 F-15 SA + 48 AH-64 Apache + 72 UH-60 Black Hawk