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       لقوات الجوية الملكية السعودية

     Al Quwwat al Jawwiya al Malakhiah as Sa'udiya

        Royal Saudi Air Force

                                         Latest update 15-04-21

Information about the Saudi Arabian Air Force are scarce due to the restrictive informaton politics. Details hereunder origin mainly from USA (official and inofficial) sources.                                    

                  
      Badges: Dhahran AB             Tabuk AB 1990                 Taif AB               Khamis Mushait AB

EXPANSION

Was the last Lightning F.53 and Lightning T.55 equipped unit based at Tabuk AB till mid January 1986 (last flight 22-01-86),  after which it moved to Taif AB receiving Northrop F-5E

from Peace Hawk IVprogramm for the strike role based at Khamis Mushait.

The Squadron was operational beginning 1979, probably disbanded in 2003 in order to enable set-up of new Squadrons when sufficent McDonnel F-15s (delivered between 1981 and 1984)
were available, additionally the Northrop F-5 had lost their operational capability for the defence of North-West Saudi Arabia. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

No 3 Squadron

A new unit formed around 1975 at Taif/Prince Fahd AB with Northrop F-5E  aircrafts from Peace Hawk II programm; it was the initial type conversion unit. Later it received at least
3 Northrop F-5F two-seaters.

By 1986 its equipment was according US sources 22 Northrop F-5E/F-5Fs its pilot being trained also to conduct aireal reconnaissance.

In August 1990, during the war with Iraq, it was one of the Tiger equipped unit based at Taif AB.

The Squadron was operational beginning 1979, probably disbanded in order form to enable set-up of new Squadrons when sufficent BAE Tornados and McDonnel F-15s were avaibable
during the 1980's.

In June 2020 it was thought to be re-formed with Eurofighters as Operational Conversion Unit, but this duty was given to No. 10 Squadron. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

No 7 Squadron

                              
                     First Saudi Northrop F-5B still with US serial 13371                            Northrop F-5B, serial 743, landing at Dhahran, its home base. Photos: archive F-5 Enthusiast

Based at Dhahran AB, at the time flying North American F-86F as an Operational Conversion Unit (OCU), was the first to re-equip in 1974 with Northrop F-5E/F-5F from

Peace Hawk II programm, keeping the OCU role, but having operational duties in emergency cases; some Northrop F-5Bs were added when No 15 Squadron was re-equipped

with Tigers. 

The complement of No 7 Squadron in 1983 was of 38 Northrop F-5B/F-5E/F-5F; it was charged with main air defense role of the Gulf area oil facilities having 2 Northrop F-5E on

a five minutes alarm readiness until No 13 Squadron pilots were combat ready on their new McDonnell F-15C (operating from January 1982), though there were also 2 of of the

new fighters on alert duties.  Squadron's pilots were trained for dissimilar air combat and flew against McDonnell F-15Cs simulating MiG-21 and MiG-23.

The unit was chosen as an Operational Conversion Unit for 48 BAE Tornado IDS heavy fighter-bombers. ordered in September 1985 .

No 15 Squadron was transferred to Khamis Mushait AB; in June 1986, at the time operating 15 Northrop F-5E, 8 F-5F, 14 F-5B; 1 Northrop F-5 equipped with reconnaissance

nose were transferred to Tabuk AB.

Upon arrival of BAE Tornadoe IDSs (delivery starting on 27-03-86) the Squadron started conversion of the crews, remaining at Dhahran, creating an operational

conversion training syllabus for the new aircraft. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

By 1986 its equipment was according US sources 22 Northrop F-5E/F-5Fs, based at Taif AB. In August 1990, during the war with Iraq, was one of the Tiger equipped unit based
at Taif AB.

In August 1998 at least 5 reconnaissance RF-5E were with the unit.

The Squadron was probably disbanded in order to enable set-up of new Squadrons when sufficent BAE Tornados and McDonnel F-15s were avaibable;  it was re-formed re-equipped
with BAE Tornados (see below).

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

No 15 Squadron

Based also at Dhahran AB, was equipped with Lockheed T-33A (originally 10), for advanced jet pilot training of graduate pilots, when these were replaced by Northrop F-5B from Peace

Hawk I programm in 1972-73. It remained an training unit, handling new pilots having received 200 hrs basic training on BAC 167 Strikemaster.

In 1974 the unit started to re-equip with F 5E Tiger and F-5F trainer aircrafts delivered under Peace Hawk II programme; it handled initial type conversion. The Northrop F-5B trainers
were mainly transferred to No 7 Squadron, the Operational Conversion Unit.

The squadron moved from Dhahran AB to Khamis Mushait AB in 1981; was regularly deployed to other bases and used for Dissimilar Aircraft Combat against No 6 Squadron
BAE Lightnings.

By August 1985 some Northrop F-5E from the Squadron replaced EE Lightnings on Quick Reaction Alert at Tabuk AB. There it took over fighter duties while No 6 Squadron transi-
tioned to the McDonnell F-15C and F-15D. Advanced stricke attack capability was added when it received AGM-65A abd AGM-65B missiles.

Twelve of its pilots, together of all Saudi ground personnel, participated to "Red Flag 81" at Nelis AFB using 4 Northrop F-5B, 6 F-5E borrowed from USAFs, 425th Tactical Training
Squadron.

By 1986 its equipment was according US sources 18 Northrop F-5E, 9 F-5Fs, based at Dhahran AB.

                                            

No 17 Squadron

OPERATIONS

An important advisory mission in developing an effective combat capability was played by the Unites States Military Training Mission with detachments at the main bases; it provided
for example No 7 Squadron at Dhahran assistance on Northrop F-5 training with instructor pilots. USAF aggressors pilots have visited Saudi Arabia before 1983 to train local pilots on
Soviet aerial tactics used by several bording countries. It had a detachment at Taif to assist locally based F-5E/F-5F and RF-5E Squadrons.

The first, and only known, exercise abroad was by Northrop F-5Es of No 10 Squadron when they were deployed to Mafraq AB (Jordan) in 06 November 1975 (excercise called Al-Yarmuk),
together with Lockheed C-130, Agusta-Bell 205, Agusta-Bell 212. The Squadron participated in a combined air/ground Jordanian/Syrian/Saudi forces excercise, demonstrating the Air Force's
ability to deploy large components to Jordanian bases and operate from their home base, relying entirely on Jordanian ground crews. The F-5s gave air support and air defense to their
own troops, while cooperating with the Syrian-Soviet operated Ground Control, and coordinating their operations with Syrian MIG 21s and 23s as well as Sukhoi Su-20s.

In 1978 pilots began Dissimiliar Air Combat training against Lightnings; in addition a large inert dart target was carried during some combat training, always to the benefit of Lightning
pilots; Tigers fired a Sidewinder air-to-air missile as a target. Additionally, Northrop F-5s designated targets for simulated laser equpped bombs to the benefit of the bigger fighter.

Four Northrop F-5B were transferred to the Yemen Arab Republic Air Force in 1979, during a conflict between the republic (North) and South Yemen, to help training of local pilots to the
recently received Northrop F-5E.

An important event was the participation in November 1980 to the "Red Flag 81-1 " exercise at Nellis AFB (USA) with USAF, 425th TFTS, loaned aircrafts. The crews used 4 Northrop F-5B,
6 F-5E, 2 F-5F painted with Saudi Arabian AF nationality markings, beside USAF ones; 12 pilots flew 135 of the planned 140 sorties, assisted only by own ground personnell.

The year 1981 saw an increasing number of their periodic deployment to Tabuk AB (near to the Jordan/Israeli border) of No 10 and No 3 Squadrons aircrafts. An unfortunate episode was
the late scramble in 1982 to counter an Iraninan McDonnell F-4 to counter a defecting Iranian McDonnell F-4, too late to intercept the aircraft before entering Saudi Arabian airspace in the
Dahararn oil area.

Depot-level capability of ariframes and avionics maintenance at Dnahran plus full operation of the Northrop Fighter had largely taken over by Saudi Arabian Personnell by 1983; some
other bases having total responsabilty for the aircrafts. Flight os 12-14 aircafts were regularly regularly detached to remote bases  on excercises. 

Taif based No 3 and 10 Squadron operated together 35 Northrop F-5E and 9 F-5F during 1983.

                                                                                     Photo: unknown
                                          Northrop F-5E 701, probably the first delivered Tiger, in company with a McDonnell F-15C of No 13 Squadron in 1988

                                       

        

An important advisory mission in developing an effective combat capability was played by the Unites States Military Training Mission with detachments at the main bases;

it provided for example No 7 Squadron at Dhahran assistance on Northrop F-5 training with instructor pilots. USAF aggressors pilots have visited Saudi Arabia before 1983 to

train local pilots on Soviet aerial tactics. It has a detachment at Taif to assistlocally based F-5E/F-5F and RF-5E Squadrons.

The first, and only known, exercise abroad was by Northrop F-5Es of No 10 Squadron when they were deployed to Mafraq AB (Jordan) in November 1975, together with Lockheed

C-130, Agusta-Bell 205,Agusta-Bell 212.

The Squadron participated in a combined air/ground Jordanian/Syrian/Saudi forces, demonstrating the Air Force's ability to deploy large components to Jordanian bases and

operate from there, relying entirely on Jordanian ground crews. The F-5s gave air support and air defense to their own troops, while cooperating with the Syrian-Soviet operated

Ground Control, and coordinating their operations with Syrian MIG 21s and 23s as well as Sukhoi Su-20s.
In 1978 pilots began Dissimiliar Air Combat training against Lightnings; in addition a large inert dart target was carried during some combat training, always to the benefit of

Lightning pilots; Tigers fired a Sidewinderair-to-air missile as a target. Additionally, Northrop F-5s designated targets for simulated laser equpped bombs to the benefit of the

bigger fighter.

Four Northrop F-5B were transferred to the Yemen Arab Republic Air Force in 1979, during a conflict between the republic (North) and South Yemen, to help training local pilots for

the recently received Northrop F-5E.

The year 1981 saw an increasing number of their periodic deployment to Tabuk AB (near to the Jordan/Israeli border) of No 10 and No 3 Squadrons aircrafts, normally based in the

South/West. An important event was the participation in November 1980 to the "Red Flag 81-1" exercise at Nellis AFB (USA) with USAF, 425th TFTS, loaned aircrafts. The crews

used 4 Northrop F-5B, 6 F-5E, 2 F-5F showing with Saudi Arabian AF,beside USAF, markings; 12 pilots flew 135 of the planned 140 sorties, assisted only by own ground personnell.

An unfortunate episode was the late scramble in 1982 to counter a defecting Iranian McDonnell F-4, too late to intercept the aircraft before entering Saudi Arabian air-space in the

Dhahran oil area and landing.

The complement of No 7 Squadron in 1983 was of 38 Northrop F-5B/F-5E/F-5F; it was encharged with main air defense role of the Gulf area oil facilities having 2 Northrop F-5E on

a five minutes alarm readiness until No 13 Squadron pilots were combat ready on their new McDonnell F-15C (operating from January 1982), though there were also 2 of these new

fighters on alert duties.  Squadron's pilots were trained for dissimilar air combat and flew against McDonnell F-15Cs simulating MiG-21 and MiG-23.

Taif basedd No 3 and No 10 Squdrons operated during 1983 35 Northrop F-5E and 9 F-5F together.

Additionally there were in 1986 22 Northrop F-5E/F-5F at Khamis Mushayt AB, 36 Northrop F-5E/F-5F and 8 Northrop RF-5E at Taif AB. The purchase of a total of 2500 AGM-65A and

AGM-65B missile gave an attack capability to these aircrafts.

Between 17-01-91 and 28-02-91 Northrop F-5E flew 1'129 and RF-5E 118 sorties; Northrop F-5Fs equipped with laser spotter/tracker and armed with GBUs did some strike missions,

"lased" with the help of SaudiBell 406 Combat Scout helicoptes. Only 1 F-5E was lost to anti-aircraft artillery on 13-02-91.

Operation "Desert Storm" took place in August 1990 following Iraqi invasion of  Kuwait. At the time there were four Northrop F-5Es equipped Squadrons: No 15 at Khamis Mushayt,

No 3 and No 10 at Taif (all with Northrop F-5E/F-5F), No 17 at Tabuk (with Northrop F-5E/RF-5E). This last was the nearest base to Kuwait, its Northrop F-5E/F-5F attacking

entrenched Iraqi infantry, RF-5E flying reconnaissance missions along the Saudi-Kuwaiti border. It seems that some aircrafts from other Squadrons were deployed to Tabuk AB.

Between 17-01-91 and 28-02-91 Northrop F-5E flew 1'129 and RF-5E 118 sorties; Northrop F-5Fs equipped with laser spotter/tracker and armed with GBUs did some strike missions,

"lased" by Saudi Bell 406 Combat Scout helicoptes. Only 1 F-5E was lost to anti-aircraft artillery on 13-02-91.

                                                                                                     Photo: USAF

                                           Saudi Arabian F-5E on a training flight with USAF McDonnell F-15C of the 33rd Tactical Fighter
                                           Wing before Desert Storm operation.

Retirement / Units conversion / disactivation

Defence of North-West Saudi Arabia was taken over by No 6 Squadron equipped with McDonnell Douglas F-15V/F-15D heavy figher as the tiny/sort range Nortrop F-5 had lost its

operational capabilities and No 2 Squadron at Taif AF was transferred to Tabuk AB in March 2003.

Replacement fighter for the tiny/simple Northrop fighter was ordered on 11-09-07 in the form of 72 much more advanced Eurofighter Typhoon.

Northrop F-5 had lost their operational capability for the defence of North-West Saudi Arabia when No 2 Squadron at Taif AF was transferred to Tabuk AB in March 2003,

contemporaneously converting to former No 6 Squadrons McDonnell Douglas F-15C/F-15Ds, these being later replaced by Boeing-McDonnell F-15S.