Royal Saudi Navy

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The Royal Saudi Naval Forces (RSNF),[1][note 1] or Royal Saudi Navy,[note 2] is the maritime arm of the Saudi Arabian Armed Forces and one of the five service branches of the Ministry of Defense of Saudi Arabia. Its primary role is monitoring and defending Saudi territorial waters, ensuring regional freedom of navigation, and protecting commercial sea routes through multinational naval coalitions.[2][1]

The Royal Saudi Navy is organized into two fleets: The Eastern Fleet, which operates in the Persian Gulf from the King Abdulaziz Naval Base at Jubail, and the Western Fleet, which operates in the Red Sea from the King Faisal Naval Base at Jeddah. Each fleet has full military capability, including warships, support ships, administrative and technical support, naval aviation, marines and special security units.[3]

Since the turn of the 21st century, the RSNF has undergone extensive efforts to expand and modernize its fleet, enhance its operational capabilities, and professionalize its personnel.[4][5]

History

The navy was founded in 1960[6][7] and began a significant expansion with United States assistance in 1972, with the aim to match the Imperial Iranian Navy. Following the Iranian Revolution a further expansion programme, Sawari, was initiated with French assistance. Further vessels were purchased from Britain and France in the 1980s and 1990s. In 1980, U.S. defense contractor Science Applications International Corporation began work with the Royal Saudi Navy to design and integrate the country's own command, control, and communications (C3) centers.[8]

Ships

Script error: No such module "Unsubst". The navy is a modern force with foreign-built ships:

Frigates

4 Multi-Mission Surface Combatant (MMSC) ordered by Royal Saudi Navy in 2019. The ship is derived from the Freedom-class littoral combat ship but with upgraded features. The deliveries of the MMSC will begin in June 2023.[9]

<templatestyles src="Template:Color/styles.css" />Photo <templatestyles src="Template:Color/styles.css" />Number <templatestyles src="Template:Color/styles.css" />Ship <templatestyles src="Template:Color/styles.css" />Builder <templatestyles src="Template:Color/styles.css" />Completed <templatestyles src="Template:Color/styles.css" />Status
File:USS-Freedom-130222-N-DR144-174-crop.jpg Marinette Marine On order
On order
On order
On order

3 Al Riyadh-class frigates are modified versions of the Script error: No such module "WPSHIPS utilities". (built by DCN, Lorient).[10] Each has a fully loaded displacement of 4,725 tons, and is armed with eight MBDA Exocet MM40 Block II surface-to-surface missiles (SSM), two eight-cell Sylver vertical launch systems for the Eurosam (MBDA and Thales) Aster 15 surface-to-air missile (SAM), an Oto Melara 76 mm/62 Super Rapid gun, and four 533 mm aft torpedo tubes. The ships are armed with the DCNS F17 heavyweight anti-submarine torpedo. The helicopter deck at the stern has a single landing spot for a medium size helicopter, such as the Eurocopter AS 365 Dauphin or the larger AS 532 Cougar or NH90 helicopters.[10]

<templatestyles src="Template:Color/styles.css" />Photo <templatestyles src="Template:Color/styles.css" />Number <templatestyles src="Template:Color/styles.css" />Ship <templatestyles src="Template:Color/styles.css" />Builder <templatestyles src="Template:Color/styles.css" />Commissioned <templatestyles src="Template:Color/styles.css" />Status <templatestyles src="Template:Color/styles.css" />Namesake
File:Frigate Al Makkah.jpg 812 Script error: No such module "WPSHIPS utilities".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". DCN Lorient 2002 In active service Riyadh City
814 Script error: No such module "WPSHIPS utilities".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 2003 In active service Makkah City
816 Dammam 2004 In active service Dammam City

4 Al Madinah-class frigates based in the Red Sea, built in France (Arsenal de Marine, Lorient (French Government Dockyard and CNIM, La Seyne) in the mid-1980s. Their full load displacement is 2,610 tons and they are armed with eight Otomat surface-to-surface missiles, one 8-cell Crotale surface-to-air missile launcher (26 missiles total), one 100 mm/44 dual-purpose gun, two 40 mm anti-aircraft guns, four torpedo tubes, an aft helicopter deck and hangar; one Dauphin helicopter.

<templatestyles src="Template:Color/styles.css" />Photo <templatestyles src="Template:Color/styles.css" />Number <templatestyles src="Template:Color/styles.css" />Ship <templatestyles src="Template:Color/styles.css" />Builder <templatestyles src="Template:Color/styles.css" />Completed <templatestyles src="Template:Color/styles.css" />Status
File:Royal Saudi Navy Al Madinah-class Frigate 2(1).jpg 702 Al Madinah Arsenal de Lorient 4 January 1985 In active service
704 Hofouf CNIM, La Seyne 31 October 1985 In active service
706 Abha 4 April 1986 In active service
708 Taif 29 August 1986 In active service

It was believed the Saudis intended to order two new British-built Type 45 destroyers,[11] however production of the destroyers came to an end with no order made. Another destroyer that the Saudis are considering is the American built Script error: No such module "WPSHIPS utilities"., having been briefed by the US Navy in May 2011 on the acquisition of two destroyers in a package that also includes an unknown number of Littoral Combat Ships.[12]

Corvettes

5 Avante-class corvettes ordered by Royal Saudi Navy in 2018. The corvettes have been built by Spanish company Navantia.

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Venezuelan vessel, older and similar to the Saudi corvettes 828 Al Jubail[13] Navantia 2022 In active service Al Jubail City
830 Al Diriyah[14] 2022 In active service Al Diriyah City
832 Hail[15] 2022 In active service Hail City
834 Jazan[16] 2023 In active service Jazan City
836 Unaizah 2024 In active service Unaizah City

4 Script error: No such module "WPSHIPS utilities".s built in the United States in 1981–83, based in the Persian Gulf, full load displacement of 1,038 tons, armament of eight Harpoon SSM, one 76 mm OTO Melara DP gun, one 20 mm Phalanx CIWS, two 20 mm guns, one 81 mm mortar, two 40 mm grenade launchers, two triple 12.75 inch torpedo tubes.

<templatestyles src="Template:Color/styles.css" />Photo <templatestyles src="Template:Color/styles.css" />Number <templatestyles src="Template:Color/styles.css" />Ship <templatestyles src="Template:Color/styles.css" />Builder <templatestyles src="Template:Color/styles.css" />Completed <templatestyles src="Template:Color/styles.css" />Status
File:Saudi Arabian missile corvette Tabuk (618) underway during Operation Desert Shield.jpg 612 Badr Tacoma Boatbuilding 1981 In active service
614 Al Yarmook 1982 In active service
616 Hitteen 1982 In active service
618 Tabuk 1983 In active service

Patrol boats

24 Al Sadiq-class patrol boats built in the United States (Peterson Builders, Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin) 1972–1980, full load displacement of 495 tons, armed with four Harpoon SSM, one 76 mm OTO gun, one 20 mm Phalanx CIWS, two 20 mm guns, one 81 mm mortar, two 40 mm grenade launchers, two triple 12.75 inch torpedo tubes.

<templatestyles src="Template:Color/styles.css" />Photo <templatestyles src="Template:Color/styles.css" />Number <templatestyles src="Template:Color/styles.css" />Ship <templatestyles src="Template:Color/styles.css" />Builder <templatestyles src="Template:Color/styles.css" />Completed <templatestyles src="Template:Color/styles.css" />Status
File:As-Sadiq class missile boat Oqbah (525) of the Royal Saudi Navy.jpg
File:DN-SC-82-03990-C.jpg 		511 As-Siddiq (الصّدّيق) Peterson Builders 1980 In active service
513 Al-Farouq (الفاروق) 1981 In active service
515 Abdul-Aziz 1981 In active service
517 Faisal 1981 In active service
519 Khalid 1982 In active service
521 Amr 1982 In active service
523 Tariq 1982 In active service
525 Ouqbah 1982 In active service
527 Abu Obaidah 1982 In active service

Minesweepers

3 Script error: No such module "WPSHIPS utilities".s (built by Vosper Thornycroft, Woolston), full load displacement of 480 tons:

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File:424 Al Kharj.jpg 420 Al Jawf Vosper Thornycroft 1991 In active service
422 Shaqra 1993 In active service
424 Al Kharj 1994 In active service

Support vessels

2 French built Script error: No such module "WPSHIPS utilities". (modified Script error: No such module "WPSHIPS utilities". replenishment ships built by CN La Ciotat, with a helicopter deck aft and hangars for 2 helicopters.

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File:Saudi Arabian replenishment oiler Boraida (902) underway in the Red Sea, in 1991.jpg 902 Boraida CN La Ciotat 1984 In active service
904 Yunbou 1985 In active service

Others

Many smaller patrol craft, two Danish-built royal yachts

  • Prince Abdul Aziz (1983–84) – built by Helsingør Værft
  • Al Yamana (Built for Iraq 1981; entered service in Saudi Arabia in 1988)

Naval aviation

Aircraft Origin Type Variant In service Notes
Sikorsky SH-60 Seahawk File:Flag of the United States.svg USA ASW/ASuW Helicopter MH-60R 10 Ordered May 2015 – armed with Hellfire missiles
Eurocopter AS332 Super Puma File:Flag of France.svg FRA ASW helicopter B1, M1, F1S1, F1S2 20
AS565 SA Dauphin File:Flag of France.svg FRA SAR helicopter AS565 SA 24

Marines

The Royal Saudi Navy maintains two, 10,000-man marine brigades consisting of three battalions each. The brigades are assigned to the Western Fleet headquartered in Jeddah and the Eastern Fleet headquartered in Jubail. The brigades are equipped with 500 Pegaso BMR AFVs and HMMWVs.

Future

Germany will supply 48 patrol boats to Saudi Arabia within the framework of its border security project, a cost of 1.5 billion euros has been noted for this deal. Lürssen has already started building 15 patrol vessels for the project's first phase. The patrol boats to be procured under the current contract come in two forms. The first are the 'TNC 35' models, which are 35-meter-long and are propelled by two diesel engines with a combined output of 7,800 kilowatts. The boat can reach speeds of up to 40 knots. The second models, 'FPB 38' are 38-meter-long and can reach speeds of up to 31 knots. As of November 2016 1 TNC 35 has been delivered to Saudi Arabia.[18]

Saudi Arabia wants to buy five German submarines for around €2.5 billion ($3.4 billion) and more than two dozen more in the future.[19]

In December 2014, the U.S. awarded Lockheed Martin a contract for a Foreign Military Sale of the Mk 41 Vertical Launching System to Saudi Arabia. With no surface ships compatible with the Mk 41 and no plans to acquire a land-based missile defense system, this indicates the country is close to purchasing a VLS-equipped surface combatant. Saudi Arabia has evaluated the Script error: No such module "WPSHIPS utilities". and the Multi-mission Combat Ship version of the Script error: No such module "WPSHIPS utilities". able to carry a VLS.[20] In October 2015, the US Congress was informed of a possible sale of Multi-Mission Surface Combatant (MMSC) Ships, a variant of the LCS.[21]

In July 2018 it was announced that Navantia had signed an agreement with the Royal Saudi Navy for the production of 5 Avante 2000 Corvettes with the last to be delivered by 2022 at a cost of approximately 2 billion Euros.[22]

Saudi Arabia ordered three more Avante 2200 corvettes from Navantia in 2024.[23]

Bases

File:Saudi Navy Desert Sheild.JPEG
King Abdul-Aziz Naval Base in Jubail, home to the eastern fleet of the Royal Saudi Navy
  • Jeddah (Al-Qadima military port)– Red Sea base home to the navy's Western fleet for frigates and 2 missile boats, 1 replenishing ship and 1 patrol minesweeper; located north of the King Faisal Naval Base air station and south of the container port area
  • Jubail – Persian Gulf base is home to the navy's Eastern fleet; smaller base home to corvettes, replenishing ship remaining missile boats and minesweepers
  • Dammam (Ras Al-Ghar military port)[24] – Persian Gulf home port for the Saudi Royal family's two Royal Yachts

Ranks

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Officer ranks
Template:Ranks and Insignia of Non NATO Armed Forces/OF/BlankTemplate:Ranks and Insignia of Non NATO Navies/OF/Saudi Arabia
Other ranks

The rank insignia of non-commissioned officers and enlisted personnel.

Template:Ranks and Insignia of Non NATO Navies/OR/Saudi Arabia
Rank group Senior NCOs Junior NCOs Enlisted

Incidents

On 30 January 2017 Al-Madinah was attacked by Houthi rebels using a suicide boat, killing 2 sailors and wounding 3 others.[25] The attack took place near the port city of Al Hudaydah, 150 kilometers southwest of the Yemeni capital Sana'a.

References

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  7. ↑ Cite error: Script error: No such module "Namespace detect".Script error: No such module "Namespace detect".
  8. ↑ Dr. J. Robert Beyster with Peter Economy, The SAIC Solution: How We Built an $8 Billion Employee-Owned Technology Company, John Wiley & Sons (2007) p. 49
  9. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  10. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  11. ↑ The Independent Template:Webarchive, "UK seeks £2bn Saudi destroyer contract" By Michael Harrison, 9 March 2007
  12. ↑ Defense NewsScript error: No such module "Unsubst".Template:Cbignore, "Saudi Arabia Mulling BMD-Capable Destroyers" By Christopher P. Cavas , 13 June 2011
  13. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  14. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  15. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  16. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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  18. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  19. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  20. ↑ FMS of MK 41 Vertical Launch Systems May Indicate Purchase of LCS or DDG by Saudi Arabia Template:Webarchive – Navyrecognition.com, 18 December 2014
  21. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  22. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  23. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  24. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  25. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".

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See also

Sources

  • Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1947–1995

Notes

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  2. ↑ Template:Langx

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