Royal Saudi Air Force RSAF القوات الجوية الملكية السعودية

Saudi Royal Air Force RSAF القوات الجوية الملكية السعودية

The Royal Saudi Air Force (Arabic: القوات الجوية الملكية السعودية‎, Al Quwwat al Jawwiya al Malakhiah as Sa'udiya), is the air force branch of Saudi Arabian armed forces. The RSAF has developed from a largely defensive military force into one with an advanced offensive capability. The RSAF maintains the third largest fleet of F-15's after the USAF and the JASDF.

The backbone of the RSAF today is the Boeing F-15 Eagle aircraft, with the Panavia Tornado also forming a major component. The Tornado and many other aircraft were delivered under the Al Yamamah contracts with British Aerospace (now BAE Systems). The RSAF ordered various weapons in the 1990s, including Sea Eagle anti-ship missiles, laser-guided bombs, and gravity bombs.

The RSAF announced its intention to purchase the Eurofighter 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.[1]

On the 17th September 2007 Saudi Arabia announced they had signed a £4.4bn deal with BAE for 72 Eurofighter Typhoons. [2]

Recent information state that Saudi Arabia has decided to turn to other suppliers for its military equipment. In November 2007, a memorandum of understanding was signed between Russia and Saudi Arabia which may result in a purchase of up to 150 new Mi-17 and Mi-35 helicopters in a deal worth over 2.2 billion USD. The deal itself hasn't been signed yet but French manufacturers have confirmed that their orders have been canceled.