In the early 1970s Saudi Arabia was looking to modernize its air force. they approached the USA and were presented with multiple options, including the McDonnell Douglas F-15 and F/A-18. The F-15 was chosen both for its overall greater capabilities and because the F/A-18 was not yet in production.
Despite opposition from some within the U.S. Congress, export of a slightly downgraded F-15 to Saudi Arabia was approved. In 1978, the Saudis placed an order for 60 aircraft, with an additional pair of jets added as attrition replacements. Under the first phase of a Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program dubbed ‘Peace Sun’, deliveries of the first Saudi F-15s began in 1982.
No Additional Saudi F-15s – For The Moment
A further 48 F-15s were requested by the Saudis in 1983, but this was denied. Amid concerns regarding the situation in the Middle East, the original sale of Saudi F-15s was limited to 60 aircraft. In the five years that had passed, those concerns had only heightened, and this second deal was shot down by Congress.
This rejection led the Saudis to look elsewhere for aircraft in a continued effort to modernize its air force. After considering several options they turned to the UK, who’d supplied them with the English Electric Lightning in the mid 1960s.
In 1985 a deal was struck that included 72 British-built Panavia Tornados. There were 48 Interdictor/Strike (IDS) and 24 Air Defense Variant (ADV) aircraft. The IDS jets would provide the Saudis with a much improved ground attack capability over their aging Northrop F-5s. And the ADVs would partially satisfy the Saudis’ need for more interceptors.
Saudis Extend Their Talons
An interesting chapter of the Saudi F-15 story took place on 5 June 1984. Two Royal Saudi Air Force (RSAF) Eagles, an F-15C and F-15D, engaged two Iranian F-4Es over the Persian Gulf.
The war between Iran and Iraq was in full swing, and the Iranians were going after Iraqi-bound shipping in the gulf. The Iranian F-4s crossed into Saudi airspace, presumably to attack merchant ships in Saudi waters.
Two RSAF F-15s were on a training flight with United States Air Force (USAF) KC-10 Extenders, practicing air refueling. They were vectored onto the F-4s by a USAF E-3 Sentry that was operating in the area.
Each F-15 fired an AIM-7 Sparrow, destroying one F-4 and damaging the other. The damaged jet was able to make it home but was apparently a total write off.
Within half an hour, the Iranians sent 11 more F-4s up as a show of force and maybe with ideas of vengeance. But when the Saudis scrambled a like number of F-15s in response, cooler heads prevailed and the Iranians backed down.
Two things make this incident interesting beyond the norm. One: it was the first tme that two aircraft built by McDonnell Douglas opposed each other in an air fight. And two: a USAF pilot was riding backseat in the F-15D.
You may be wondering what that guy was doing there, and your author is willing to expound a bit. But… in another article, perhaps.
Peace Sun VI – More Saudi F-15s
Though that second deal for F-15s was denied, the USA continued to supply Saudi Arabia with other aircraft and arms under Peace Sun. Notable among these was the sale of five Boeing E-3 Sentry Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircraft.
That deal was as equally contested by Congress, but ultimately went through, as finally did an order in 1987 for 12 more Saudi F-15s. This was followed in September of 1990 by a transfer of 24 additional aircraft from United States Air Force (USAF) inventory.
The transfer of USAF jets was largely in response to the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait in August 1990. Both deals were effected under Peace Sun VI.
Desert Storm – F-15s on the Defensive
A multi-national coalition was formed in response to the invasion of Kuwait. And over the final few months of 1990 a gradual buildup of coalition forces took place in the Persian Gulf region. Saudi Arabia was a key member of this coalition, and played host to the bulk of forces involved.
When the Desert Storm air campaign began in January of 1991, most of the coalition air sorties were flown from Saudi bases. The Royal Saudi Air Force (RSAF) played its part, both in the air and against ground targets.
Though RSAF Tornado IDS jets were in the thick of it, flying several thousand strike sorties, the Saudi F-15s played a strictly defensive role. They flew Combat Air Patrol (CAP) in defense of the Kingdom, usually far behind the battle lines, referred to as ‘goalie CAP’.
Bird of Prey: Saudi F-15s Get Into the Mix
On 24 January 1991, Captain (Capt.) Ayehid Salah al-Shamrani, an F-15C driver with 13 Squadron, RSAF had his moment in the limelight.
Flying out of King Abdulaziz Air Base, Capt. al-Shamrani was leading a four-jet CAP along the eastern Saudi coast that morning. A controller aboard a USAF E-3 Sentry vectored the Saudis toward unknown aircraft flying very low just off the coast.
The controller guided the Eagles to an intercept, and the intruders were identified as a pair of Iraqi Mirage F.1EQs. Maneuvering in behind the Mirages, Capt. al-Shamrani closed to about 1000 yards before the Iraqis broke, one to the left, and the other right.
Capt. al-Shamrani engaged one Mirage with an AIM-9 Sidewinder, destroying it, Then, a few seconds later, he loosed another AIM-9 and splashed the second Mirage. These would be the only Saudi air kills of the war, and the only victories not scored by American pilots.
Strike Eagles for the Saudis? Not Quite
The Saudis had expressed interest in acquiring the F-15E Strike Eagle, but the USA refused because of its advanced radar and other systems. Saudi inquiries into the possibility of an advanced single-seat variant designated F-15F were also nixed.
After a bit of finagling, approval was given in 1993 to supply the Saudis with a significantly downgraded version of the F-15E. Shades of the original Saudi F-15 deal.
Initially designated the F-15XP, this was soon changed to F-15S. The first of 72 of these flew in 1995, and the last jet was delivered under Peace Sun IX in 1999.
The Greatest of all Saudi F-15s
In 2011 the Saudis ordered 84 more Eagles under the designation F-15SA. Contrary to past deals, these aircraft would incorporate significant avionics upgrades. Among these are targeting, tracking, and navigational systems of greater capability than those of the F-15S. Structural improvements, too, allow for greater load-carrying capability.
The first F-15SA flew in 2013 and the last jet was delivered to the Saudis in 2020. In addition to acquiring newly-built F-15SA airframes, the Saudis engaged Boeing to upgrade its F-15S fleet to F-15SA standard.
Since 2009, the RSAF has used the F-15 numerous times during its intervention into the Yemeni Civil War. At least two Saudi F-15s have been hit by surface to air missiles fired by Houthi rebels. Some reports indicate that at least one may have been shot down, but these seem to be erroneous.
The Saudi F-15 story has largely mirrored the evolution of the USA’s overall relationship with Saudi Arabia since the 1970s. Back then, the US was willing to give the Saudis only a limited number of downgraded jets. Recent deliveries, however, have seen the RSAF operating one of the most advanced variants of the Eagle ever built.
