WASHINGTON — Saudi Arabia plans to spend up to $60 billion to
modernize its military.
A Saudi consultant to the royal family has reported a Defense Ministry
plan to invest between $50 billion and $60 billion to bolster the kingdom's
military and security forces. The consultant said this would include the
procurement of advanced air and ground platforms as well as a 20 percent
increase in Saudi ground forces, Middle East Newsline reported.
"Major strengthening of armed forces initiated; $50 to $60 billion will
be invested," Nawaf Obaid, director of the Saudi National Security
Assessment Project, said.
Obaid, the security and energy adviser to Saudi ambassador to the United
States Prince Turki Al Faisal, outlined an ambitious procurement program in
a presentation to the New America Foundation on Nov. 10. Obaid said the
Saudi military would acquire fourth-generation aircraft and upgrades.
"The Royal Saudi Air Force will receive a 50 percent fleet expansion of
fighter aircrafts and major upgrades to its existing fleet," Obaid said.
"Seventy-two new Eurofighter Typhoons have been purchased. The process has
begun to upgrade 96 Tornado IDS."
Another part of the modernization program was the upgrade of Saudi
Arabia's U.S.-origin F-15 fleet. Obaid said the Royal Saudi Air Force would
implement what he termed a "new advanced maintenance program for all 155
F-15s — especially for the aging F-15Cs and Ds — to bring
them up to combat readiness."
The air force was also examining a proposal to purchase 48 Rafale
fighter-jets from France's Dassault Aviation. Obaid also cited consideration
of an advanced platform to replace the aging Saudi fleet of 43
British-origin Hawks air trainers.
In 2006, Saudi Arabia requested more than $12 billion worth of weapons
from the United States. Riyad has also signed agreements with BAE Systems
worth more than $16 billion for the Eurofighter and the upgrade of the
Tornado fighter-jet.
Obaid said Saudi Arabia has already signed an accord for 48 UH-60L Black
Hawk helicopters. He said the Saudi fleet of 12 AH-64A Apache attack
helicopters would be upgraded, with the option to purchase 25 AH-64D Apache
Longbow platforms.
Under the modernization plan, Saudi ground forces would be significantly
bolstered. Obaid said the Royal Saudi Land Forces and Saudi Arabian National
Guard would be increased by 20 percent as well as receive new platforms,
exercises and training doctrine. This would increase Saudi Army strength to
150,000 troops and SANG to 125,000.
Saudi Arabia has already requested an upgrade of its fleet of 315 M1A1
Abrams main battle tanks to M1A2S configuration as well as the addition of
58 M1A1 platforms. Obaid said Riyad was also examining a proposal to
purchase between 350 and 500 French Leclerc MBTs.
Obaid said the Saudi National Guard has created an air command with 64
NH-90 utility helicopters, 12 Tiger attack helicopters and 20 Eurocopter
Cougars. He said SANG would construct several bases and expand others.
