Royal Saudi Air Force

The Royal Saudi Air Force (RSAF; Arabic: القوات الجوية الملكية الـسعودية‎‎, al-quwwāt al-ğawwiyyah al-malakiyyah as-suʿūdiyyah), is the aviation branch of the 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-15s after the American and Japanese air forces.

The backbone of the RSAF is currently the Boeing F-15 Eagle, 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. Al-Salam, a successor to the Al Yamamah agreement will see 72 Eurofighter Typhoons delivered by BAE.

Aircraft Inventory

Combat Aircraft

• Eurofighter Typhoon x 72 (Multirole Fighter) - 48 more on order
• McDonnell-Douglas F-15C/D Eagle x 50 (Air Superiority Fighter)
• Boeing F-15S/SA Strike Eagle x 154 (Multirole Fighter)
• Panavia Tornado IDS x 82 (Strike Aircraft)

ELINT Aircraft

• Beechcraft Super King 350 x 6 (SIGINT/ELINT Aircraft)
• Boeing E-3A Sentry x 6 (AWACS Aircraft)
• Boeing RE-3A/B Sentry x 4 (Reconnaissance Aircraft)
• Saab 2000 AEW&C x 2 (AWACS Aircraft)

Transport Aircraft

• Airbus KC-30A x 6 (Aerial Tanker)
• Antonov An-132 x 0 (Tactical Transport) - 6 on order
• Antonov An-148 x 0 (Medical Transport) - 4 on order
• Antonov An-178 x 0 (Tactical Transport) - 30 on order
• Beechcraft Super King Air 350 x 10 (Transport Aircraft)
• Boeing 707 x 8 (Aerial Tanker)
• Boeing KE-3A Sentry x 8 (Aerial Tanker)
• British Aerospace Jetstream 31 x 2 (VIP Transport)
• CASA CN-235M-10 x 4 (VIP Transport)
• Cessna Citation Bravo x 4 (VIP Transport)
• Gulfstream IV x 2 (VIP Transport)
• Lockheed C-130H Hercules x 34 (Tactical Transport)
• Lockheed Martin C-130J-30 Super Hercules x 20 (Tactical Transport)
• Lockheed KC-130H Hercules x 8 (Aerial Tanker)
• Lockheed Martin KC-130J Super Hercules x 2 (Aerial Tanker)

Helicopters

• Agusta-Bell 212 x 38
• Agusta-Bell AB-412 x 28
• Boeing CH-47F Chinook x 48 (Heavy Lift Transport Helicopter)
• Boeing AH-64A Apache x 12 (Attack Helicopter)
• Boeing AH-64E Apache Guardian x 0 (Attack Helicopter) - 70 on order
• Eurocopter AS332 Super Puma x 20 (Maritime Helicopter)
• Eurocopter AS365 Dauphin II x 24 (SAR Helicopter)
• Eurocopter AS532M Cougar x 12 (SAR Helicopter)
• Eurocopter EC665 Tiger x 12 (Attack Helicopter)
• Mil Mi-24/35 x 150 (Attack/Transport Helicopter)
• NHIndustries NH90 x 64 (Utility Helicopter)
• Sikorsky UH-60L Blackhawk x 100+ (Utility Helicopter)

Trainer Aircraft

• BAe Systems Hawk Mk.65/65A x 48 (Advanced Jet Trainer)
• BAe Systems Hawk Mk.165 x 22 (Advanced Jet Trainer) - 22 more on order
• Cirrus SR22 x 26 (Light Trainer)
• McDonnell-Douglas F-15D Eagle x 22 (Conversion Trainer)
• PAC MFI-17 Mushshak x 40 (Primary Trainer)
• Pilatus PC-21 x 56 (Advanced Trainer)