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Client Force Profile

Saudi Armed Forces

القوات المسلحة السعودية — Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

The Saudi Armed Forces comprise the Royal Saudi Land Force, Royal Saudi Air Force (RSAF), Royal Saudi Navy, Royal Saudi Air Defence Forces, and Saudi Arabian National Guard (SANG). Saudi Arabia is the world's third-largest defence spender and one of the largest importers of Western military equipment, with a $75.8B defence budget representing approximately 6% of GDP.

Key Metrics
257,000
Total Armed Forces
All branches combined
~350
Combat Aircraft
RSAF fixed-wing fleet
~1,000
Main Battle Tanks
M1A2S Abrams + M60
~55
Naval Vessels
Frigates, corvettes, patrol
$75.8B
Defence Budget
FY 2024 (SAR 284B)
~6.0%
GDP on Defence
2024 estimate

Sources: IISS Military Balance 2024; Saudi Ministry of Finance; SIPRI Military Expenditure Database 2024.

Royal Saudi Air Force (RSAF) Inventory
Platform / SystemRoleQty (est.)Origin
F-15SA Eagle IIMulti-role strike fighter84USA
F-15C/D EagleAir superiority~70USA
Eurofighter Typhoon Tranche 3Multi-role fighter72UK / Eurofighter consortium
Tornado IDS / ADVStrike / interceptor (retiring)~60UK / Germany / Italy
E-3A Sentry AWACSAirborne early warning5USA
KC-130H HerculesAir-to-air refuelling8USA
C-130H/J HerculesTactical transport~35USA
AH-64D ApacheAttack helicopter12USA
Royal Saudi Land Force — Key Systems
Platform / SystemRoleQty (est.)Origin
M1A2S AbramsMain battle tank~440USA
M60A3 PattonMain battle tank~450USA
M2A2 BradleyInfantry fighting vehicle~400USA
M109A5 Paladin155mm self-propelled howitzer~200USA
M270 MLRS / HIMARSMultiple launch rocket system~58USA
Royal Saudi Navy — Principal Vessels
Platform / SystemRoleQty (est.)Origin
Al Riyadh-class (La Fayette)Frigate3France
Badr-class (PCG)Guided missile corvette4USA
Al Siddiq-classFast attack craft (missile)9USA
MMSC (Multi-Mission Surface Combatant)Frigate (on order)4USA
Active Modernisation Programmes
▸
F-15SA Eagle II Deliveries
Advanced AESA radar, JDAM, StandOff Land Attack Missile — all 84 delivered by 2023; upgrade programme ongoing
▸
Eurofighter Tranche 3 Upgrade
E-Scan AESA radar, Brimstone 3, Meteor BVR missile integration under Typhoon Sustainability Programme
▸
Vision 2030 Defence Localisation
SAMI (Saudi Arabian Military Industries) targeting 50% domestic procurement by 2030; 12 JV partnerships with Western OEMs
▸
THAAD Expansion
Additional Terminal High Altitude Area Defense batteries for strategic site protection; Patriot PAC-3 MSE upgrades
▸
MMSC Frigate Programme
4 Multi-Mission Surface Combatant frigates contracted with Huntington Ingalls Industries; deliveries from 2026
SORC Engagement

SORC supports Saudi procurement offices with NSN parts sourcing for US-origin platforms, UK export licensing (SIEL/OIEL) for British-supplied systems including Typhoon and Tornado, and compliance advisory for transactions subject to ITAR, EAR, and UK Export Control Order requirements.

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