Looking at the Saudi orbat, and at the recent massive orders for more F-15SAs, Apaches, Little Birds and Blackhawks, it's clear that the Saudis have plenty of great equipment. And with bags of high-priced help from contractors, and the impressive seeming Alsalam aircraft company, they ought to be pretty good.............
And yet the stories of incompetence and over-reliance on foreign contractors and 'loan officers' still seem prevalent.
Eg:
The Royal Saudi Air Force - A Paper Tiger, Minus the Tiger
The Royal Saudi Air Force - A Paper Tiger, Minus the Tiger
Misconceptions about the Royal Saudi Air Force as well as musings.
Misconceptions about the Royal Saudi Air Force as well as musings.
So what's the truth?
1) This was an accurate picture back then, and is accurate now.
2) This was an accurate picture back then, but things have improved and it is inaccurate now.
3) This was an accurate picture back then, but things have got even worse.
4) This contains elements of truth, but is fundamentally wrong.
5) This was an exaggerated picture back then, and is even less accurate now.
6) This was an inaccurate picture back then, and is even more inaccurate now.