Latest news with #F-15SA
The National
25-04-2025
- Business
- The National
The biggest US–Saudi Arabia arms deals explained
The US is poised to offer Saudi Arabia an arms package worth well over $100 billion, sources told Reuters, saying the proposal was being lined up for announcement during President Donald Trump's visit to the kingdom in May. Here is a look at the US's biggest arms deals with Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states in the past 15 years: In May 2017, during President Donald Trump's first official overseas visit to Riyadh, the US and Saudi Arabia announced a sweeping arms agreement valued at $110 billion immediately, with a projected total of up to $350 billion over the following decade. It was hailed as one of the largest arms deals in US history and formed the centrepiece of renewed strategic co-operation between Washington and Riyadh. The package included a wide array of advanced military hardware and defence systems, such as: The deal also encompassed significant upgrades to communications, cybersecurity infrastructure, and command-and-control systems to improve interoperability with US forces. The agreement aimed to strengthen Saudi Arabia's defensive capabilities against regional threats, while also providing a major boost to American defence manufacturers. However, many of the deals were based on preliminary letters of intent rather than finalised contracts, and remained subject to congressional approval and export control reviews. The US is preparing a major arms package for Saudi Arabia, expected to be unveiled during President Donald Trump's upcoming visit to the kingdom in May. He is also due to visit the UAE and Qatar. According to US officials cited by Reuters, the proposed deal is estimated to exceed $100 billion, positioning it as one of the largest military agreements of the current administration and a continuation of the deep defence ties between the two nations. The package is expected to include a range of advanced military systems, likely to feature: This prospective deal is viewed as both a revival and an expansion of the 2017 strategic framework. In December 2011, under the Barack Obama administration, the US finalised a landmark arms deal with Saudi Arabia valued at $29.4 billion. The agreement was one of the most significant bilateral defence sales of the time and was formally confirmed by the US Department of Defence. The 2011 F-15SA deal included: Deliveries began in the mid-2010s and had a visible impact on Saudi Arabia's military operations. The deal also strengthened Saudi Arabia's position in its broader strategic goals, helping to ensure sustained air superiority and reinforcing the US–Saudi defence partnership in an increasingly volatile region. In November 2020, the US State Department approved a major arms deal with the UAE valued at $23.37 billion, one of the largest in the region's history. Finalised in January 2021 but not yet fully delivered, the package included 50 F-35A Joint Strike Fighters worth $10.4 billion, 18 MQ-9B Reaper drones at nearly $3 billion, and a $10 billion supply of advanced air-to-air and air-to-ground munitions. In June 2017, the US signed a $12 billion arms deal with Qatar, aimed at strengthening bilateral defence relations. The deal, announced by the Department of Defence and supported by the DSCA, provided 36 F-15QA (Qatar Advanced) fighter jets, along with a full package of training, logistics and maintenance support. Kuwait also finalised a major arms agreement with the US in 2018, following DSCA approval in 2016. Valued at $10.1 billion, the deal included 28 F/A-18E/F Super Hornet jets alongside associated weapons systems, training, and logistical support. It was part of Kuwait's broader effort to modernise its air force.
The National
25-04-2025
- Business
- The National
Biggest US–Saudi Arabia arms deals explained
The US is poised to offer Saudi Arabia an arms package worth well over $100 billion, sources told Reuters, saying the proposal was being lined up for announcement during President Donald Trump's visit to the kingdom in May. Here is a look at the US's biggest arms deals with Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states in the past 15 years: In May 2017, during President Donald Trump's first official overseas visit to Riyadh, the US and Saudi Arabia announced a sweeping arms agreement valued at $110 billion immediately, with a projected total of up to $350 billion over the following decade. It was hailed as one of the largest arms deals in US history and formed the centrepiece of renewed strategic co-operation between Washington and Riyadh. The package included a wide array of advanced military hardware and defence systems, such as: The deal also encompassed significant upgrades to communications, cybersecurity infrastructure, and command-and-control systems to improve interoperability with US forces. The agreement aimed to strengthen Saudi Arabia's defensive capabilities against regional threats, while also providing a major boost to American defence manufacturers. However, many of the deals were based on preliminary letters of intent rather than finalised contracts, and remained subject to congressional approval and export control reviews. The US is preparing a major arms package for Saudi Arabia, expected to be unveiled during President Donald Trump's upcoming visit to the kingdom in May. He is also due to visit the UAE and Qatar. According to US officials cited by Reuters, the proposed deal is estimated to exceed $100 billion, positioning it as one of the largest military agreements of the current administration and a continuation of the deep defence ties between the two nations. The package is expected to include a range of advanced military systems, likely to feature: This prospective deal is viewed as both a revival and an expansion of the 2017 strategic framework. In December 2011, under the Barack Obama administration, the US finalised a landmark arms deal with Saudi Arabia valued at $29.4 billion. The agreement was one of the most significant bilateral defence sales of the time and was formally confirmed by the US Department of Defence. The 2011 F-15SA deal included: Deliveries began in the mid-2010s and had a visible impact on Saudi Arabia's military operations. The deal also strengthened Saudi Arabia's position in its broader strategic goals, helping to ensure sustained air superiority and reinforcing the US–Saudi defence partnership in an increasingly volatile region. In November 2020, the US State Department approved a major arms deal with the UAE valued at $23.37 billion, one of the largest in the region's history. Finalised in January 2021 but not yet fully delivered, the package included 50 F-35A Joint Strike Fighters worth $10.4 billion, 18 MQ-9B Reaper drones at nearly $3 billion, and a $10 billion supply of advanced air-to-air and air-to-ground munitions. In June 2017, the US signed a $12 billion arms deal with Qatar, aimed at strengthening bilateral defence relations. The deal, announced by the Department of Defence and supported by the DSCA, provided 36 F-15QA (Qatar Advanced) fighter jets, along with a full package of training, logistics and maintenance support. Kuwait also finalised a major arms agreement with the US in 2018, following DSCA approval in 2016. Valued at $10.1 billion, the deal included 28 F/A-18E/F Super Hornet jets alongside associated weapons systems, training, and logistical support. It was part of Kuwait's broader effort to modernise its air force.
India.com
22-04-2025
- Politics
- India.com
How powerful are Saudi Arabia's F-15 fighter jets, which welcomed PM Modi's aircraft, they are special because...
F-15 fighter jets of the Royal Saudi Air Force welcoming PM Modi's aircraft- Video grab In a unique and special gesture shown by the government of Saudi Arabia, the Royal Saudi Air Force has given a unique honor to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. During the special gesture, PM Modi's aircraft was escorted by F-15 fighter planes of the Royal Saudi Air Force when his special flight entered the airspace of the Gulf nation on Tuesday. Notably, PM Modi is paying a two-day visit to Saudi Arabia. Video shows Saudi jets escorting PM Modi's aircraft The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) also released a video of the Saudi jets escorting Modi's aircraft. The gesture is being seen as deepening of defence cooperation between the two countries. The gesture is being seen as a deepening of defence cooperation between the two countries, the report by news agency PTI said. 'Giving further momentum to our long-standing and historic ties. PM @narendramodi lands in the historic port city of Jeddah to a 21-gun salute & ceremonial welcome,' Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in a post on X. About Saudi Arabia's F-15 aircraft The F-15 aircraft is one of the most successful fighter planes in the world and the Saudi Arabian Air Force has 207 F-15E Strike Eagle (F-15SA) and 21 F-15 Eagle aircraft. The F-15 aircraft is twin-engine, all-weather fighter aircraft designed for air superiority. Reports have quoted experts saying that the F-15 fighter aircraft is considered the backbone of the Saudi Arabian Air Force. Notably, the Saudi Arabian Air Force has two variants of the F-15 aircraft, namely the F-15E Strike Eagle (F-15SA) and the F-15 Eagle. PM Modi and the Crown Prince will co-chair the second meeting of the Strategic Partnership Council, which was established during the prime minister's 2019 visit to strengthen bilateral ties. The prime minister, who received Saudi Arabia's highest civilian honour in 2016, described the crown prince as 'my brother'. PM Modi receives warm welcome Upon his arrival at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel, Modi was warmly welcomed by Indian community members. Saudi singer Hashim Abbas sang a popular Hindi film song to welcome Modi. Standing in front of Modi, Abbas sang 'Ae watan mere aabad rahe tu' from the Alia Bhat-Vicky Kaushal starrer Raazi. Modi joined in with claps amid loud cheers from the gathering in the hotel's lobby. (With inputs from agencies)
Zawya
27-02-2025
- Business
- Zawya
SAMI concludes its participation as the Platinum Sponsor of the first Aerospace Connect Forum
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: SAMI, the national defense and security champion, a PIF company, successfully concluded its participation as the Platinum Sponsor of the first Aerospace Connect Forum, held in Jeddah from February 24–25, 2025. Under the patronage of His Excellency Mr. Bandar bin Ibrahim Al-Khorayef, Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources, and organized by the Industrial Center and co-hosted by the General Authority of Civil Aviation, the forum was successful in driving innovation, promoting the localization of aerospace technologies in alignment with Vision 2030 and creating an ideal platform for international collaboration and investment. The forum was inaugurated by His Excellency Abdulaziz bin Abdullah Al-Duailej, President of the General Authority of Civil Aviation, and His Excellency Eng. Khalil bin Ibrahim bin Salamah, Deputy Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources for Industrial Affairs, who also visited the SAMI pavilion. As a Platinum Sponsor, SAMI's presence at the forum was particularly significant, showcasing its key division, SAMI Aerospace, through its subsidiaries, SAMI Alsalam Aerospace Industries, SAMI Figeac, SAMI Aerospace Mechanics and SAMI AEC. SAMI Figeac presented its latest innovations in aerospace components, including metal parts used in aircraft parts, floor beams, wing ribs, and Tailcone panels. Additionally, the F-15SA pylons, designed for mounting external equipment such as fuel tanks beneath aircraft wings, were showcased. These pylons are manufactured at SAMI Alsalam Aerospace Industries' facilities. Experts from across SAMI's divisions participated in a panel discussion titled "Trends, Challenges and Best Practices for Ensuring Aircraft Reliability and Safety," where they discussed the company's continuous efforts to enhance local aerospace manufacturing capabilities and identified opportunities for growth within the sector. At the close of the first day, and His Excellency Eng. Khalil bin Ibrahim bin Salamah, Deputy Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources for Industrial Affairs, alongside SAMI CEO, Eng. Thamer AlMuhid, and accompanying delegation toured the SAMI Aerospace Mechanics and SAMI Figeac Aero Manufacturing facilities. The visit provided an opportunity to assess progress, review advanced manufacturing technologies, and explore the Kingdom's growing industrial capabilities in aerospace, reinforcing the commitment to localizing 50% of Saudi Arabia's military spending by 2030.
Gulf Insider
12-02-2025
- General
- Gulf Insider
Saudi Air Force To Participate In Cobra Warrior 25-1 Exercise In UK
The Royal Saudi Air Force will participate in the Cobra Warrior 25-1 exercise, which will be held in the United Kingdom alongside the forces of a number of friendly countries. A farewell party was given at King Khalid Air Base in the southern Asir region to the Air force members leaving for the UK to participate in the exercise. Addressing them, Commander of the Air Force Lt. Gen. Turki bin Bandar congratulated them on the honor of representing the homeland. He urged them to represent it in the best way, do their best and benefit from the exercise, and apply the highest safety standards. Lt. Gen. Turki stressed that participation in this exercise aims to strengthen relations and cooperation with the British Royal Air Force and other participating forces. It will highlight the capabilities, professionalism and readiness of the Saudi Air Force, and gain more combat experience for aircrews and support in a complex war environment. It is noteworthy that Cobra Warrior 25/1 exercise which will be held from February 24 to March 14 at several bases in the UK. The main base for the exercise is RAF Waddington, in addition to RAF Coningsby, RAF Lakenheath and RAF Mildenhall. The Saudi Air Force is participating with a number of F-15SA aircraft, in addition to many systems from the Air Force of the host country, the United Kingdom, and the participating countries include Qatar, Turkey, and France
