What's new

Is Saudi Arabia interested in the F-35?

I am sure that RSAF will going to place an order for about:
100: F-35As
100: F-35Bs
 
If really interested, it will get it.. the same story as the F-15 plus AWACs that Usrael didn't get..
The problem is real interest.. because KSA do not operate any single engine fighter aircrafts!!!
 
Currently our AirForce is extremely busy on inducting two new Aircrafts already, the F-15SA will replace the F-15S. The Typhoon is replacing the F-5s. However down the road in 2020 perhaps we will be forced to retire the Tornadoes, so maybe by 2017 or 2018 a 5th generation aircraft (Most likely F-35) deal will be signed. By the. It will become cheaper and more mature.

Currently the Typhoons and F-15SAs serves their role extremelly will, even when Israel eventually induct the F-35s in around 2018 they will be hard pressed to "Match" our capabilities then. And Israel is only getting 25 F-35s then. And with only 100 F-16is and 25 F-15is to face our fleet of 72+ Eurofighters, and 156 F15SAs and 85 Panavia Tornadoes.

The IAF won't throw in other aircrafts at KSA because it simply can't match it.

Why KSA is not looking into KF-X or Japanese 5th gen project? A JV will give KSA a customized version with local industry benefits and no major strings attached.

I am talking about the F-1Xi, the only real front line fighters in Israeli inventory. The F-16As and Bs, The F-15As and Bs, make the majority of the count, these jets won't survive 3 seconds against a modern F-15 like the F-15SA or the Typhoon. So Israel will not use them at all in case of a Saudi-Israeli confrontation. Same how Saudi Arabia will not use the F-15Cs and Ds, or the Tornado ADVs we have.

War is not as simple as you are posting it here, as a combined force Israel is very potent force, and question is does IFF of F-15s and EFTs see Isreali birds as foes?? Because NATO treat them as allies.
 
Why KSA is not looking into KF-X or Japanese 5th gen project? A JV will give KSA a customized version with local industry benefits and no major strings attached.
Saudi do not face "major strings attached" on their deals with Americans because they are on even playing field with each other in the matter of investments.

F-15 SA aircraft that Saudi are getting are incredibly advanced - incorporating some 5th generation features as well. Learn more from here: http://foxtrotalpha.jalopnik.com/this-is-a-fully-armed-f-15sa-the-most-advanced-product-1715732294

Saudi can also pitch for F-15 Silent Eagle - a true 5th generation model of the series. Boeing have developed and tested a fully functional prototype already.
 
Last edited:
Saudi do not face "major strings attached" on their deals with Americans because they are on even playing field with each other in the matter of investments.

F-15 SA aircraft that Saudi are getting are incredibly advanced - incorporating some 5th generation features as well. Learn more from here: http://foxtrotalpha.jalopnik.com/this-is-a-fully-armed-f-15sa-the-most-advanced-product-1715732294

Saudi can also pitch for F-15 Silent Eagle - a true 5th generation model of the series. Boeing have developed and tested a fully functional prototype already.

Why KSA don't went for Silent Eagles??
 
Why KSA is not looking into KF-X or Japanese 5th gen project? A JV will give KSA a customized version with local industry benefits and no major strings attached.



War is not as simple as you are posting it here, as a combined force Israel is very potent force, and question is does IFF of F-15s and EFTs see Isreali birds as foes?? Because NATO treat them as allies.
Yes, KSA has its own IFF, it has intercepted Usraeli F-16s twice and even the the plane of Natanyahu when it got close to Saudi airspace.. hope that answers your question..

Why KSA don't went for Silent Eagles??
There are no Silent eagles in production.. KSA got all the technologies developed for the "Silent Eagle" and put therm in its new F-15s SA or Saudi Advanced..
 
Yes, KSA has its own IFF, it has intercepted Usraeli F-16s twice and even the the plane of Natanyahu when it got close to Saudi airspace.. hope that answers your question..

Good but in terms of EW systems KSA is not ahead of Israel and dependant on western countries which are Israeli allies, KSA don't have anything like Iron Dome, Arrow, David Sling, Barak, Phalcon AWACS, Cyber attack capabilities etc.

KSA need to work hard on many aspects buying expensive and advance weaponry off the shelf don't make one powerful.

Yes, KSA has its own IFF, it has intercepted Usraeli F-16s twice and even the the plane of Natanyahu when it got close to Saudi airspace.. hope that answers your question..


There are no Silent eagles in production.. KSA got all the technologies developed for the "Silent Eagle" and put therm in its new F-15s SA or Saudi Advanced..

Did KSA newer F-15 have frontal stealth like Silent Eagle?? Basically SE was offered in the market but no buddy went for it, closest may be SK F-15s.
 
Why KSA is not looking into KF-X or Japanese 5th gen project? A JV will give KSA a customized version with local industry benefits and no major strings attached.



War is not as simple as you are posting it here, as a combined force Israel is very potent force, and question is does IFF of F-15s and EFTs see Isreali birds as foes?? Because NATO treat them as allies.
Well you just saw that a little rift with Qatar has put Turkey to test.. let alone a major difference of views and policies!!!
Japan is making its own 5th G, but its arms industry is not fully developed yet.. it can't match the West.. see the late Submarines deal for to Australia that it has lost to France.. It is not only France, the US is also involved in the deal, since it will equip the submarines itself.. Japan can not compete on this level..
 
Well you just saw that a little rift with Qatar has put Turkey to test.. let alone a major difference of views and policies!!!
Japan is making its own 5th G, but its arms industry is not fully developed yet.. it can't match the West.. see the late Submarines deal for to Australia that it has lost to France.. It is not only France, the US is also involved in the deal, since it will equip the submarines itself.. Japan can not compete on this level..

Basically US may allow KSA to work with Japan or SK on 5th gen project and also allow it's companies to work on the project too, because US will not want to annoy Israel by selling F-35s to a ME country, it will be win win situation.
 
Good but in terms of EW systems KSA is not ahead of Israel and dependant on western countries which are Israeli allies, KSA don't have anything like Iron Dome, Arrow, David Sling, Barak, Phalcon AWACS, Cyber attack capabilities etc.

KSA need to work hard on many aspects buying expensive and advance weaponry off the shelf don't make one powerful.



Did KSA newer F-15 have frontal stealth like Silent Eagle?? Basically SE was offered in the market but no buddy went for it, closest may be SK F-15s.
KSA has the most powerful and potent US EW suites on its fighters.. I do not think that Usraeli systems are better, since they are _with no exception_ based on US systems..
On top of it, KSA is working on its own systems in all the fields you have mentioned..
What can you say about England and most other European countries, Japan and others who are much more advanced and powerful than Usrael still buy off the shelf systems and weapons from the US?..

Basically US may allow KSA to work with Japan or SK on 5th gen project and also allow it's companies to work on the project too, because US will not want to annoy Israel by selling F-35s to a ME country, it will be win win situation.
It is a good Idea, but that will take time until they are fully tested and become operational.. minimum of 10 years.. both are getting the F-35.. KSA can go for JVs and can get the F-35 too while waiting..
 
KSA has the most powerful and potent US EW suites on its fighters.. I do not think that Usraeli systems are better, since they are _with no exception_ based on US systems..
On top of it, KSA is working on its own systems in all the fields you have mentioned..
What can you say about England and most other European countries, Japan and others who are much more advanced and powerful than Usrael still buy off the shelf systems and weapons from the US?..


It is a good Idea, but that will take time until they are fully tested and become operational.. minimum of 10 years.. both are getting the F-35.. KSA can go for JVs and can get the F-35 too while waiting..

KSA is getting export version and Israel gets better version then export ones and they customize them too, KSA is no way near that and US will not help KSA in conflict with Israel and US can do what UK did to Iraq during gulf war, share secrets of equipments compromising their capabilities.
 
Did KSA newer F-15 have frontal stealth like Silent Eagle?? Basically SE was offered in the market but no buddy went for it, closest may be SK F-15s.
Maybe not the same frontal stealth.. but the F-15SA has a much lower RCS than any F-15 before it..
 
KSA has the most powerful and potent US EW suites on its fighters.. I do not think that Usraeli systems are better, since they are _with no exception_ based on US systems..
On top of it, KSA is working on its own systems in all the fields you have mentioned..
What can you say about England and most other European countries, Japan and others who are much more advanced and powerful than Usrael still buy off the shelf systems and weapons from the US?..


It is a good Idea, but that will take time until they are fully tested and become operational.. minimum of 10 years.. both are getting the F-35.. KSA can go for JVs and can get the F-35 too while waiting..

If they get US support in development of 5th gen plane then they can go in production in 10 years because US companies already have plenty 5th gen systems readily available they don't have to reinvent the wheel.
 
Back
Top Bottom