Saudi Arabia

According to the December 2018 report by Stockholm International Peace and Research Institute (SIPRI), Saudi Arabia is the world’s third-largest military spender behind the USA and China, the largest spender on arms in the Middle East, and the largest military spender per capita. According to the General Authority of Statistics-GaStat the Military spending of the Saudi Arabian State Budget in 2019 was SAR 198 Billion (US$52.8 Billion) representing 18.89% of the State Budget, reduced by -12.22% compared to 2018. The Security spending in 2019 was SAR 104 Billion (US$27.73 Billion) reduced by 3% compared to 2018.

Traditionally, Saudi Arabia sided with the Western countries and became one of the most important importer of western weapon systems. The biggest arms suppliers of Saudi Arabia from 1998-2017 are: USA (61%), Britain (23%), France (3.6%), Spain (2.4%), Switzerland and Germany (each 1.8%), Italy (1.5%), Canada (1.4%) and Turkey (1.3%), Sweden (1.1%), and the Netherlands (0.5%).

Defence and Security Policy

For decades Saudi Arabian had decided to pursuit a low-profile foreign policy although the country is an oil superpower and has modern and powerful armed forces. For many years, the Kingdom did not seek for regional dominance although it has enormous influence over global oil supply and pricing.

This changed in March 2011 when Saudi Arabia

  1. intervened militarily in Bahrain in order to assist the Bahraini Government in dealing with a public revolt
  2. the establishment in March 2015 of the Arab coalition consisted of 8 countries (Egypt, Morocco, Jordan, Sudan, the UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain), to fight against the Houthi revolt in Yemen and restore to power the legitimate President of Yemen who was toppled by the Houthi in January 2015 and
  3. the creation in December 2015 of a 34-nation Islamic military alliance to fight terrorism around the wider Middle East and North Africa region.

The new Saudi foreign policy and Riyadh’s hard approach to threats and enemies is guided by a defence doctrine developed and the beginning of the previous decade. The New Saudi Defence Doctrine (SDD) first unofficially articulated in 2014 and was presented in early October 2015 by Prince Sultan bin Khaled al-Faisal, former Commander of the Royal Naval Forces. According to the presentation of the Commander, the primary aim of the new defence policy is to defend the homeland, protect Saudi citizens, secure national interests, bolster defence of partner states and strengthen Saudi interagency partnerships.

More specifically, the SDD offers seven goals that will help the Kingdom to succeed in its two primary survival and security objectives: to protect against internal and external threats and to mitigate unrest in the Arab and Muslim world.

The first goal of the SDD is the defence of the homeland and the protection of Kingdom’s borders against potential tensions aggressions and any other neighboring problems that could spill across the borders.

This goal is divided into three sub-goals: a) the defence of the northern border (main concern is the instability in Iraq and the influence of Iran in Baghdad), b) the defence of the southern border (the Iran-backed Shia Houthi revolt) and c) the defence of the surrounding sea lines, used for the export of oil and import of consumer and capital goods, the protection of the offshore oil fields, the coastal energy infrastructure and trading choke points such as the Bab Al Mandab gateway into the Red Sea and the Hormuz Straits.

According to the SDD, the Saudi Arabian Armed Forces will have to prepare to fight two-front wars simultaneously against anti-Saudi military forces, on the southern Yemeni and northern Iraqi borders.

The second goal of the SDD pursue, the defence of the Kingdom from terrorism and more specific defence against terrorist attacks at homeland, against attacks abroad and against the dissemination of extreme rhetoric and terrorist ideology both at homeland and abroad. More vulnerable targets are the energy facilities of the Kingdom and the two Holy Mosques in Makkah and Madinah.

The third goal is the bolstering of the defence of Strategic Allies through the strengthening of the foundations of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and the protection of certain member states, the institutionalization of the shared military capabilities of the GCC and the containment of the effects of the revolts of the “Arab Spring”.

The fourth goal of the SDD is the projection of power in the region and internationally as well as, the projection of influence in the Muslim world. The Kingdom will have to establish its ability to rapidly react to threats, to respond to crises and contribute to deterrence and contain regional unrest.

The main geopolitical rival of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was and still is Iran, although both countries do not have any territorial or economic dispute. The expand of the Iranian influence in Yemen, Iraq, Syria and Lebanon the last 10 years alarmed Saudi Arabia. Furthermore, the pursuit of Iran to obtain nuclear weapons and sophisticated long-range cruise and ballistic missiles, forced Riyadh to procure weapon systems that could counter a possible Iranian attack.

The fifth goal of the SDD is to deter the proliferation of the Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) by promoting its policy for a WMD-free Zone Middle East, increasing Kingdom’s detection, interdiction and containment capabilities and finally creating adequate military deterrence against nuclear threats.

Although Saudi Arabia is trying hard to deter the proliferation of nuclear weapons in the Middle East, this policy could be altered if one day Iran declares that has managed to develop nuclear weapons. This dramatic development could force Saudi Arabia to seek for a contingency plan to create a credible nuclear deterrent force to protect itself and its allies.

The sixth goal of the SDD includes the establishment of two Commands for Cyberspace and Space. The major cyber-attacks against ARAMCO in 2012 and in 2017 with the “Shamoon” virus, although did not damage the actual production of oil, they did affect certain day-to-day business operations.

Furthermore due to the important role of the Saudi oil production to the global economy, the cyber security of the government and the energy business system is of international concern. Regarding the Space Command the Kingdom aims to establish itself as a leading supplier of space surveillance and monitoring technologies.

The seventh and final goal of the SDD is the strengthening of the inter-agency partnerships within Saudi military institutions. In order to achieve this, the Kingdom should focus on three tasks, advancing the coordination and consistency of national security, intelligence, and foreign policy strategy and their corresponding agencies, adapting cross agency organizational defense mechanisms, and creating an inter-agency approach to assess all agencies’ preparedness, capabilities, and handicaps.

Defence Budget

In order to implement the new doctrine, Saudi Arabia proceeded to the procurement of new weapons systems and the upgrade of existing ones. According to the December 2018 report by Stockholm International Peace and Research Institute (SIPRI), Saudi Arabia is the world’s third-largest military spender behind the USA and China, the largest spender on arms in the Middle East, and the largest military spender per capita.

According to the GaStat:

  • The Military spending of the Saudi Arabian State Budget in 2019 was SAR 198 Billion (US$52.8 Billion) representing 18.89% of the State Budget, reduced by -12.22% compared to 2018. The Security spending in 2019 was SAR 104 Billion (US$27.73 Billion) reduced by 3% compared to 2018,
  • The Military spending in 2018 was finally SAR 242 Billion (US$64.53 Billion) representing 22.4% of the State Budget, increased by 6% compared to 2017, while the Security spending was SAR 113 Billion (US$30.13 Billion)
  • The Military spending in 2017 was SAR 228 Billion (US$60.8 Billion) representing 24.51% of the State Budget increased by 9.8% compared to 2016, while the Security spending was SAR 108 Billion (US$28.8 Billion)
  • The Military spending in 2016 was SAR 207.5 Billion (US$55.33 Billion) representing 25% of the State Budget, while the Security spending was SAR 99.6 Billion (US$26.56 Billion)

According to International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), the Saudi Armed Forces under the Ministry of Defence (MoD) include five services for the defence of the country, the Army, the Navy, the Air Force, the Air Defence and the Strategic Missiles Force.  In addition to these forces, Saudi Arabia maintains the National Guard which falls under the administrative control of the Ministry of National Guard, as well as, the Royal Guard and the Border Guards forces.

Finally, the Kingdom maintains a large paramilitary force under the control of the Ministry of Interior and the GIP, the General Military Intelligence Service.

Regarding the size of these forces, the Saudi Army has 75,000 personnel, the Navy 13,500 personnel, the Air Force 20,000 personnel, the Air Defence 16,000 personnel and the Strategic Missiles Forces 2,500 personnel.  The Saudi Arabian National Guard has 100,000 - 125,000 personnel, while there are 24,500 paramilitary personnel.

Because of the geographic location of Saudi Arabia, the internal instability of several neighboring countries and the regional military confrontations that occurred since the departure of the British from the Middle East, Riyadh had to maintain strong armed forces and train its personnel to deal with at least two crisis simultaneously. Traditionally, Saudi Arabia sided with the Western countries and became one of the most important importer of western weapon systems.

The biggest arms suppliers of Saudi Arabia from 1998-2017 are: USA (61%), Britain (23%), France (3.6%), Spain (2.4%), Switzerland and Germany (each 1.8%), Italy (1.5%), Canada (1.4%) and Turkey (1.3%), Sweden (1.1%), and the Netherlands (0.5%). The ambitious military equipment procurement programs of Saudi Arabia started at late 1970’s when Riyadh bought in 1978 from the USA ,60 F-15C/D fighter jets, 5 E-3 Sentry AWACS, 6 KC-135 aerial refueling aircraft and 1,177 AIM-9 Sidewinder air-to-air missiles. The total value of these programs was US$8.5 Billion.

Although Saudi Arabia requested in 1983 from Reagan administration, the procurement of additional 48 F-15C/D fighter jets, Washington refused to sell these aircraft.  AIPAC (American Israel Public Affairs Committee) managed to persuade the US Congress to block the new sale of these aircraft, forcing Saudi Arabia to turn to the UK for the procurement of new aircrafts.

The “Al Yamamah I” arms procurement program was signed with the Government of Saudi Arabia on the 26th of September of 1985 and included the procurement of 48 IDS Tornado bomber aircrafts, 24 ADV Tornados fighter jets, 30 Hawks Mk. 65/65A jet trainers, 102 Sea Eagle anti-ship missiles, 560 Skyflash BVRAAM (Beyond-Visual-Range-Air-To-Air-Missile) missiles for the Tornados and 2 Jetstream light transport aircraft.

In 1988 the UK sold to Saudi Arabia 3 Sandown Minehunter ships, 6 Hawker-800 VIP jets and in 1991 Britain sold 250 Alarm anti-radiation missiles, as part of the “Al-Yamamah I” program. The total cost of the “Al Yamamah I” program reached US$29 billion by 1992 and included the cost of the constructions, the support of the weapons systems, the training of the Saudi personnel and the construction of the naval vessels.  Two years later, in June 1993, Saudi Arabia signed the “Al Yamamah II” contract for the procurement of 48 Tornado IDS bomber aircrafts and 20 Hawk 60s jet trainers, while 38 more new and second handed (from USAFE) F-15C/D fighter jets were eventually bought from the USA between 1987 - 1990.

The same period, early 1980’s, the Royal Saudi Navy signed contracts for the procurement of 4 Al Madinah-class frigates as part of the "Sawari" programme. The Al Madinah-class was built in France at the Arsenal de Marine, Lorient (French Government Dockyard and CNIM, La Seyne in the mid-1980s). The 4 frigates were commissioned between January 1985 - August 1986. The program with a total cost of US$1.9 Billion, included also the delivery of 24 SA-365 Dauphin 2 helicopters, AS-15 air-to-surface missiles and two modified Durance-class fuel supply/replenishment vessels (Boraida-class). This shipbuilding program was followed in by a second called “Sawari II”. The new program included the construction of three Al Riyadh-class frigates in France at DCN's Lorient shipyard. The contract for the first two frigates was signed in November 1994 and the second contract for the third ship in 1997. Between the two major shipbuilding contracts, Saudi Arabia bought from France 18 AS332 Super Puma helicopters and 20 Patrol Boats.

Just before the start of the First Gulf War (August 1990), Riyadh bought 400 M2A2 Bradley AIFV for US$1.5 Billion and after the First Gulf War, Saudi Arabia bought from the USA 315 M1A2A Abrams main battle tanks for US$3.1 Billion, 1,117 LAV-25 Light Armor Vehicle from General Motors Canada for US$3.4 Billion as well as, 450 Mowag Piranha Light Armor Vehicle (LAV). Several years later in 2006, Saudi Arabia bought 58 second hand M1A1 Abrams that were upgraded along with the initial 315 M1A2A Abrams to the M1A2S configuration for US$2.9 Billion.  Finally, 69 more M1A2S tanks were ordered on the 8th of January 2013 and additional 153 M1A2S were ordered in 2016.

Following the end of the First Gulf War, Saudi Arabia bought from the U.S. 12 AH-64A for the Royal Saudi Land Force, which several years later were upgraded to the AH-64D Longbow version. During the same period (September 1990 - December 1992) Saudi Arabia bought 20 batteries of Patriot missile defense systems for US$4 Billion.

The biggest Saudi order of U.S military equipment during 1990’S was the procurement of 72 F-15S aircraft in May 1993. The value of the contract was US$9 Billion, and the last aircraft was delivered in 1999. During the 1990’s Saudi Arabia ordered US$38.2 Billion worth of new FMS agreements and took delivery of military material valued of US$29.9 Billion.

In 2007, British aerospace industry BAE sold 72 Eurofighter-Typhoon to Saudi Arabia. Preliminary agreements about “The Salam Project” between the UK and Saudi Governments were signed in December 2005 and August 2006, while the detailed final contract was signed in September 2007.

The program included the procurement in 2007 from Saudi Arabia of 24 Typhoon Block 20 fighter jets, the modernization of 84 Tornados IDS in 2007, the procurement of 48 Typhoon Block 8 fighter jets in 2008, the procurement of 350 Storm Shadow cruise missiles for the modernized Tornados IDS, the procurement of 22 Hawk-100 jet trainers in 2012 and finally the procurement of 22 more Hawk-100 jet trainers in 2015.

Between 2008 and 2014 Saudi Arabia received 24 UH-60L Black Hawk helicopters from the U.S. that were ordered in 2008 for US$286 Million.

The next big Saudi armament deal was signed in December 2011 and included the procurement of 84 new F-15SA aircraft as well as, 193 LANTIRN Navigations Pods, 169 AN/AAS-42 IRST pods, 158 AN/AAQ-33 SNIPER Targeting System pods, 169 Digital Electronic Warfare Systems pods, 10 DB-110 Recon Pods, 300 AIM-9X Sidewinder Air-To Air missiles, 500 AIM-120C/7 AMRAAM Air-To Air missiles, 4,100 Guided Munitions, 3,000 of conventional bombs, 400 AGM-84 Block II HARPOON missiles, 600 AGM-88B HARM anti-radiation missile.

Furthermore, the contract included the upgrade of 70 existing F-15S aircrafts bought in 1993. The total cost of the program was estimated to reach US$29.432 billion.

The same year 2011 (October and November) Saudi Arabia signed two more contracts for the procurement from the U.S. of 36 AH-64E Guardian Apache helicopters for US$1,276 Billion and 24 UH-60M Black Hawk (November) for US$638.8 Million. Two years later in November 2013 Saudi Arabia signed of a US$234 Million contract for the procurement of 24 AH-6S light attack helicopters, for the Saudi Arabian National Guard.

In February 2014, Saudi Arabia signed another major contract this time with General Dynamics Land Systems Canada, for the procurement of 900 LAV 6.0 Armored Personnel Carriers for US$10 Billion  In September 2015, Saudi Arabia ordered 24 additional AH-64E Guardian Apache attack helicopters for US$905 million and in January 2018 another US$193.8 Million contract for 17 UH-60M transport helicopters.

Eight of the new UH-60M helicopters went to the Saudi Arabian National Guard and nine to the Royal Saudi Land Forces Airborne Special Security Forces. In March 2017, Boeing received an order to build 24 AH-64E Guardian Apache helicopters for the Saudi Arabian Army and few months later, in June 2017, Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. was awarded a US$3,767,831,006 firm-fixed-price FMS contract from Saudi Arabia for a Black Hawk multi-year production effort to include associated services for program system management, engineering, technical data and publications.

During the official visit of President Trump in Saudi Arabia, on May 20th of 2017, the two Governments announced the potential procurement from Riyadh of U.S military material and services of almost US$100 Billion.

Among those listed as potential sales were:

  • US$13.5 Billion for seven THAAD anti-ballistic missile defense system batteries.
  • US$4.46 Billion for 104,000 air-to-ground munitions (GBU 31v3, GBU-10, GBU-12, GBU-31v1, GBU-38).
  • US$6.65 Billion for enhancements to Saudis’ Patriot anti-missile system.
  • US$2 Billion for "light Close Air Support" aircraft.
  • US$2 Billion for 4 new "TASS & Strategic ISC." aircraft, where TASS stands for "Tactical Airborne Surveillance System," similar in concept to the U.S. Air Force JSTARS system.
  • US$5.8 Billion for 3 KC-130J and 20 C-130J.
  • US$6.25 Billion for an 8-year sustainment deal for Saudi Air Force fleet of F-15 fighters.
  • US$2 Billion for MK-VI Patrol Boats.
  • US$6 Billion for 4 Lockheed Martin Multi-Mission Surface Combatant (MMSC) frigates.
  • US$2.35 Billion to modify 400 existing M2 Bradley AIFV.
  • US$1.35 Billion for 213 new Bradley AIFV.
  • US$1.5 Billion for 180 Howitzers.
  • US$18 Billion for C4I System and integration.
  • Two "Remote Sensing Satellites" estimated at $800 Million.
  • Two US$4 Billion satellite communications & Space Based Early Warning Systems estimated.
  • US$2 Billion for 14 MH-60R Seahawk helicopters.
  • US$1.8 Billion for 30 UH-60 rescue helicopters
  • A Lockheed Martin press release, said the company was forming a joint venture with Saudi company Taqnia to "support final assembly and completion of an estimated 150 S-70 Black Hawk utility helicopters for the Saudi Government." 
  • Sustainment estimates for the Ministry of Interior (MOI) list comes in around US$930 Million.
  • US$662 Million for 26 AN/TPQ-53(V) Radar Systems
  • US$750 Million for a training program for the Royal Saudi Air Force
  • 48 Boeing CH-47F heavy transport helicopters.
  • US$1.4 Billion for 6 P-8A Poseidon Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA).

According to CSIS think tank, from the beginning of 2017 till December of 2018, the total value of the weapon systems and services that Saudi Arabia bought from the U.S.A was US$20.07 Billion.

During 2017, U.S State Department approved the following sales of military material and services to Saudi Arabia:

  • 44 THAAD anti-ballistic missile launchers, 360 THAAD interceptor missiles, 16 THAAD Fire Control and Communication Mobile Tactical Station Groups, 7 AN/TPY-2 THAAD radars for US$15 Billion,
  • 26 AN/TPQ-53(V) radar systems for US$662 Million,
  • Continued blanket order training program and Continuation of a naval blanket order training inside and outside the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for US$1 Billion,
  • Ten 74K Persistent Threat Detection System (PTDS) Aerostats for US$525 Million

The total value of the weapons systems and services that U.S State Department approved for sale to Saudi Arabia in 2017 was US$17.18 Billion

During 2018, U.S State Department approved the following sales of military material and services to Saudi Arabia:

  • 180 M109A5/A6 structures for the conversion of 177 M109 howitzer to M109A6 Paladin version, for US$1.31 Billion,
  • 6.600 TOW 2B (BGM-71F) anti-tank missiles, 96 TOW 2B (BGM-71F) validation missiles for US$670 Million
  • Equipment and services for the continuation of the Maintenance Support Services for AH-64D/E UH-60L, Schweizer 333, and Bell 406CS helicopters for US$106.8 Million
  • Logistic Supply Support Agreement for the support of M1A2 Abrams, M2A2 Bradley AIFV, LAV, HMMWV, M198 howitzer for US$300 Million.
  • Technical assistance and support for the Patriot and HAWK anti-aircraft missile systems for US$500 Million

The total value of the weapons systems and services that U.S State Department approved for sale to Saudi Arabia in 2018 was US$2.88 Billion.

During the meeting of Mohammed Bin Salman, the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, with the U.S President on March 20, 2018, Donald Trump claimed that his administration has “finalized” arms sales to Saudi Arabia, worth US$12.5 Billion, including:

  • US$3 Billion worth of Standoff Attack missiles,
  • US$533 Million in CH-47F Chinook,
  • US$525 Million in Threat Detection Aerostats,
  • US$880 Million in M1A2 tank upgrades,
  • US$63 Million in artillery shells,
  • US$889 Million worth of Harpoon II anti-ship missiles,
  • US$6 Billion worth of MMSC frigates, and
  • US$645 Million worth of Joint Standoff missiles.

During the same meeting Donald Trump presented a pending list of sales of arms to Saudi Arabia which included:

  • US$13 Billion worth of THAAD ABMs,
  • US$3.8 Billion worth of C-130Js,
  • US$1.4 Billion worth of Poseidon MPA aircraft, and
  • US$1.2 Billion worth of Bradley armored fighting vehicles

Except from these orders the Saudi Arabian Government ordered to Germany 33 patrol boats in 2014, 2 large patrol boats from France in 2015 and 5 corvettes from Spain in 2018.