Saudis Eye Buying 72 F-15s ?



Saudi Arabia is close to placing an order for as many as 72 Boeing F-15 fighter jets, industry and defense sources tell us. Growing security concerns over Gulf neighbor and perennial troublemaker Iran are pushing the Saudis to upgrade their air fleet with a particular emphasis on precision strike aircraft.

The Pentagon is expected to approve the sale as it seeks to counter Irans recent break-out as a regional power and quell nervousness among Gulf Arab states troubled by Irans growing stockpile of increasingly accurate and long-range ballistic missiles. Foreign military sales are managed through the Pentagons Defense Security Cooperation Agency. DSCA did not respond to an emailed request for information.

The F-15 order would come on top of Riyadhs purchase of 72 Eurofighter Typhoons in 2006, the first of which are just now being delivered to the Gulf kingdom. The Saudis currently operate around 71 two-seat F-15Ss, a variant of the F-15E Strike Eagle with downgraded avionics, Hughes APG-70 radar and LANTIRN targeting pod. They also operate 66 single-seat F-15Cs and 18 two-seat F-15Ds air-superiority fighters, according to figures compiled by CSISs Anthony Cordesman.

I spoke with Boeings Patricia Frost, and while she wouldnt comment specifically about a potential Saudi F-15 buy, she did say Riyadh, along with other potential international customers, has expressed interest in the recently unveiled F-15 Silent Eagle variant. A modified F-15E, the Silent Eagle includes radar absorbent materials added to leading edges, canted vertical stabilizers that reduce side radar returns, and weapons carried internally in conformal fuel tanks. The modifications provide some reductions in both the aircrafts head-on radar signature and also some improvement against air-defenses, she said.

DoD Buzz friend Stephen Trimble has a good write up on the Silent Eagle available here. A flight test demonstration of the Silent Eagle variant is scheduled for early next year, Frost said.

Last year, Riyadh requested 900 Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAM) tail kits, another Boeing product, to convert dumb iron bombs into smart bombs. The JDAMs were to be carried by the Royal Saudi Air Force F-15S strike jets. The sale got hung up momentarily by Congress, as large weapons sales to Arab states often do, but ultimately went through.

I asked Travis Sharp, a military analyst at The Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation, in Washington, DC, about the likelihood that Congress would interfere with a Saudi order for more F-15s. It was very unlikely, he said. The last time Congress really tried to block a major arms sale was the Saudi AWACS deal back in the 1980s, and even that sale eventually went through.

http://theasiandefence.blogspot.com/

Would SA be allowed to buy Silent Eagles?



When I was young I used to pray for a bike, then I realized that God doesn't work that way, so I stole a bike and prayed for forgiveness.

Why not: our government said 9/11 was done by a bunch of Saudis but kicking it with them.

A handful of birds for some oil is a good deal.

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The Muslims believe that Jesus (Peace Be Upon Him) was not crucified on the cross. They believe that he was raised to the heavens by the Lord and the Lord put someone (the Lord made him look like Jesus) in Jesus spot. There will be a day when Jesus (Peace Be Upon Him) will return to this world. He will return not as a prophet but as a follower of Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him). Upon his arrival all the world's Christians will become Muslims. After some time the whole world will become Muslim for the Lord has said the whole world will taste Islam. I can't wait for that day. Indeed only someone so great can bring something so beautiful.

Long live the great Muslim people.
Long live the great Muslim nations.

The real question is why wouldn't they buy more Typhoons ?

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"deeds, not words"

The real question is why wouldn't they buy more Typhoons ?
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Politics ... .
I think we all agree that SA doesn't buy military equipment because it's good, it's all about politics.



When I was young I used to pray for a bike, then I realized that God doesn't work that way, so I stole a bike and prayed for forgiveness.

Maybe they want a plane that is more suitable for A/G missions...
i dont understand them. they dont have pilots but they buy more fighters..
and for 72 EF's and now addidtional fighters they didnt open a tender. with a 100+ order, rafale could be a better option..

but i remember that i heard some news about EADS bribing a saudi prince(with woman). that explains everything.

"The real question is why wouldn't they buy more Typhoons ? "

F-15s are probably cheaper, more mature platform (better reliability, easier to maintain), greater range, and better A-G like mentioned before. Also, they can use existing SA f-15 maintenance facilities/infrastructure, which is prolly the main reason imho. SA doesn't really need more air superiority fighters than the 72 typhoons it has on order, so these will fill in a multi-role gap in quantity.

F-15 easy to maintain ?? Good one

For what I understood, the F-15SE, in "stealth mode" is quite limited for the payload, so I'm not sure if it would have lots of advantages over a Typhoon there.

Well, but I'm not sure it worth the effort to try to find a logic in SA.

typical of saudis

buying planes they cant maintain, man, or operate. i smell corruption...


any body here remember the yamaha deals in 1980s??

This is fefinitely not good for Eurofighter...

The only advantages i can see is the A2G capabilities of the Eagle and the AESA radar which is not a sure thing with the Typhoon just yet...

Thunder Supports Rafale
http://rafale.freeforums.org
http://rafale.freeforums.org/rafale-vs-f-16-aerodynamics-compared-t69.html

WAFF syndrome explained:

= A pathological liar is someone who often embellishes his or her stories in a way that he or she believes will impress people.

= In psychology, mythomania (also known as pseudologia fantastica or pathological lying) is a condition involving compulsive lying by a person with no obvious motivation.
http://www.bushywood.com/mythomania.htm

westerners are so stubid.

pakistan , saudi arabia and turkey should have not given not a screw of millitary techology.

its the equvelant of arming musolini to counter hitller in the 30s....
today these countries are containable..

..what will happen in the future..

thats right arming the arbas with an airfoce greater than that of usa is a good stragedy(that is today, arabs have as many modern airplanes as the usa)

WHY DO THESE CAMEL HUMPERS NEED SUCH ADVANCED AIRCRAFT?

THEY SHOULD STICK TO BANGING DONKEYS AND CAMELS

^ punit go home..


on a serious note.. some one said KSA are short of pilots...
well americans and pakistanis are always their..

____________________________________________
"Anti indian, the raja of the jungle!!"

WHAT THE **** IS PUNIT?
CAN SOMEONE EXPLAIN

^ punit is a low IQ indian rat who is pretending to be a smart @ss playing muslim killer. you are a LOSER!! LOSER!!
now go home punit!


____________________________________________
"Anti indian, the raja of the jungle!!"

MUSLIM KILLER (love that nickname btw) is probably a muslim turd.



When I was young I used to pray for a bike, then I realized that God doesn't work that way, so I stole a bike and prayed for forgiveness.

westerners are so stubid.

pakistan , saudi arabia and turkey should have not given not a screw of millitary techology.

its the equvelant of arming musolini to counter hitller in the 30s....
today these countries are containable..

..what will happen in the future..

thats right arming the arbas with an airfoce greater than that of usa is a good stragedy(that is today, arabs have as many modern airplanes as the usa)

Don't be so naive boy.

I'm sure all the weapon system have a failsafe build in.

In any war time all US have to do is broadcast a code or press a button and this "high-tech" planes will probably blow up on its own.

And its not like any of these donkey nation could reengineer the US technology as well. Even most 'advanced' (except Turks, who I have respect for) of the nations, Pakistan, can't even make a motorcycle, much less a jet.

downgraded avoinics...what else is new.

Pakistan, can't even make a motorcycle, much less a jet.************

RE: pakistan does produce a large number of licence built scootors, motorcycles and rickshaws since the 1980s.

reviewing your posts over some time i dont think even a dog in pakistan would have respect for u. u can barely get even get basic facts right. it is ok some people r born and raised in a very inferior fashion. and u r one of them.

u can blame your infidel religion if it makes u happy

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Pakistan Airforce: The largest distributor of Indian airforce parts in Asia



Pathankot Strike
8 F-86Fs of No 19 Squadron led by Squadron Leader Sajjad Haider struck Pathankot airfield. With carefully positioned dives and selecting each individual aircraft in their protected pens for their strafing attacks, the strike elements completed a textbook operation against Pathankot. Wing Commander M G Tawab, flying one of the two Sabres as tied escorts overhead, counted 14 wrecks burning on the airfield. Among the aircraft destroyed on the ground were nearly all of the IAFs Soviet-supplied Mig-21s till then received, none of which were seen again during the War.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PFHlzP69n9c

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The real question is why wouldn't they buy more Typhoons ?




They might be looking for an impressing strike capability that Thyphoon doesn't have. Long distance missions deep into Iranian territory bombing the hell out of some targets and come back safely..This is something that Typhoon can't accomplish. 72 Typhoons for A2A + 72 Strike Eagles for A2G is an ideal combination..