They can afford the worlds best top of the line fighters. Why would they buy JF-17? No need to be blindly patriotic be realistic sometimes guys. I may be wrong if so can someone explain why the Saudis would buy it?
Careful, This is the propaganda which Iranian puppies in Pakistan had been paddling from past many years.
InshaAllah, soon they all will be seen biting their own tongues. They were planning but Allah is the biggest planer.
Just to answer question; Saudis are definitely watching thunder closely from beginning, in past Saudi defense minister has personally visited production line and inspected jF-17 together with his air force top officials, so it's not really a news.
Technically speaking, jF-17 blk1 was not compliant with Saudi requirements, same as it is not for Chinese, Egyptians etc.
However, integration of IFR has been a game changer, such has broadened the range of jF-17 potential markets.
I'm also guessing that in beginning, Saudi Arabia may buy Sudan one or 2 squadrons of jF-17, who recently came atop as as a reliable strategic defense ally of Saudi Arabia.
12 AIM-120?
Thats a mother ship
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To cover an earth mass as large as Saudi, that's the best they can pick.
RAF has dedicated Single seat fighters, only for CAP missions.
Neither they have so many pilots to man hordes of squadrons at every corner of KSA.
Historically they relied upon defense partners, so they hire /contract pilots from ally states to fill the gaps in defense infrastructure.
In history Pakistan was one of leading defense contractor of Saudi. I hope MBS make a new start with Pakistan and gain it's market as leading defense contractor in larger middleast. It's a win win situation for all parties.
