Royal Saudi Air Force
The Royal Saudi Air Force (Arabic: الْقُوَّاتُ الْجَوِّيَّةُ الْمَلَكِيَّةْ ٱلسُّعُوْدِيَّة, romanized: Al-Quwwat Al-Jawiyah Al-Malakiyah as-Su’udiyah) (RSAF) is the aviation branch of the Saudi Arabian Armed Forces.
Royal Saudi Air Force | |
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القوات الجوية الملكية السعودية | |
![]() Badge of the Royal Saudi Air Force | |
Founded | June 1920 [1] |
Country | ![]() |
Type | Air force |
Role | Aerial warfare |
Size | 20,000 456 combat aircraft 1,106 total aircraft |
Part of | Saudi Arabian Armed Forces |
Motto(s) | "الله أكبر" God is the greatest |
Engagements | |
Decorations | ![]() |
Website | Official website |
Commanders | |
Commander of the Air Force | Lieutenant General Turki bin Bandar Al Saud |
Insignia | |
Roundel | ![]() |
Low Visible roundel | ![]() |
Aircraft flown | |
Electronic warfare | E-3 Sentry, Saab 2000 AEW&C |
Fighter | Panavia Tornado, Eurofighter Typhoon, F-15E |
Helicopter | Bell 412, AS532, Sikorsky UH-60 |
Reconnaissance | Panavia Tornado, King Air 350 |
Trainer | Pilatus PC-21A, PAC MFI-395, Cirrus SR22, BAE Hawk |
Transport | C-130H, C-130J, King Air 350 |
The Royal Saudi Air Force currently has approximately 1,106 aircraft, 40,000 active personnel, 23,000 recruits, 9 wings, +99 squadrons, and a Special Forces unit dedicated to combat search and rescue.
The RSAF has developed from a largely defensive military force into one with an advanced offensive capability, and maintains the third largest fleet of F-15s after the U.S. 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 48 Eurofighter Typhoons delivered by BAE.