Royal Saudi Naval Forces (RSNF)
The development of the navy as a guardian force in the Persian Gulf and Red Sea dates from 1974 when the Saudi Naval Expansion Program (SNEP) was initiated with the assistance of the United States. Previously, the navy had only a few obsolete patrol boats, landing craft, and utility boats. As of 1992, the main combat vessels were four guided-missile frigates and four corvettes, nine missile-armed fast attack craft, and four minesweepers.
Between 1980 and 1983, the United States supplied four PCG-1 corvettes (870 tons) each armed with eight Harpoon antiship missiles in addition to six torpedo tubes. Nine fast attack craft, also delivered in the early 1980s, were similarly equipped with Harpoon missiles.
The principal combat ships of the navy were four French F-2000 frigates (2,870 tons) commissioned in 1985 and 1986, each armed with a Dauphin helicopter, eight Otomat antiship missiles having a range of 160 kilometers, torpedo tubes, and a 100mm gun. The Sawari I program called for the delivery of four F2000S multirole frigates and 2 auxiliary replenishment vessels to the Royal Saudi Arabian Navy over a 7 year program, including logistic support for 17 years was completed time and within budget and the ships have been operational since 1988. The Company not only designed, developed and integrated the combat system, but also set up the command staff requirement for the Royal Saudi Navy. The Company provided all the logistic support, and recently signed a contract for a major overhaul and modernisation program. In the same contract with France were two logistic support ships, twenty-four Dauphin helicopters, most armed with AS-15 antiship missiles, and support programs for training and maintenance.
Saudi Arabia contracted to purchase three Lafayette-type frigates (3,700 tons) from the French, armed with Exocet antiship missiles, and a 100mm gun. Thomson-CSF is the prime contractor for Sawari II, a 9 year, multi billion pound program for delivery of three F3000S frigates for the Royal Saudi Naval Forces, equipped with the state-of-the-art Arabel multi function radar and the Aster missile system similar to that already installed on the French Navy's nuclear powered aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle. The first vessel for Saudi Arabia was delivered in mid-2002, with the others to follow in 2003 and 2004. Navy (Royal Saudi Naval Forces) SAAM air-defence system for three F-3000S (modified French La Fayette-class) frigates was ordered in 1997 and all equipment on board since September 2002. The prime characteristic of La Fayette frigates is their stealth, which is to say, their low radar, acoustic, IR and electromagnetic signatures. The La Fayette concept featured the first major design innovations in this respect. These flexible, modular vessels are available in anti-air, anti-submarine and multirole versions. On Friday 20 July 2001, the frigate Makkah (Arabic for 'Mecca') built by DCN's Lorient shipyard for the Royal Saudi Naval Forces was launched during a ceremony attended by French and Saudi officials. The vessel was moved to a special berth for final outfitting prior to harbour acceptance tests. The Makkah was scheduled for delivery in the second quarter of 2003. The Sawari II contract signed by France and Saudi Arabia on 19 November 1994 calls for the delivery of three frigates: The first, Al Riyadh, was launched on 1 August 2000. Outfitting is almost complete and harbour acceptance tests are scheduled to begin in September 2001. The second, the Makkah, was launched on 20 July. The third, Al Damman, will be built in the drydock vacated by the Makkah on 20 July. Like its predecessors, the Al Damman will be assembled from pre-outfitted hull blocks. The Sawari II contract includes services ranging from logistic support to the training of crews and engineers, and the building of a training centre. Thales is prime contractor for the overall Sawari II programme and DCN the naval architect for all three ships. The main industrial partner are DCN/DCN International for the platforms and propulsion systems and SFCS, a joint subsidiary of DCN and Thales, for the combat systems. The Sawari II vessels are based on DCN's highly successful La Fayette-class stealth frigates. They have an overall length of 133 metres and a beam of 17 metres for a displacement of 4,500 tons. The Sawari II frigates feature highly-automated combat management systems developed jointly by Thales and DCN and based on the CMS developed for the French Navy's La Fayette-class frigates. Their sophisticated combat systems include the SAAM naval self-defence system comprising an Arabel fire-control radar and Aster 15 missiles.
The large arms agreement with Britain in 1988 resulted in a contract for three Sandown-class minesweepers to be delivered between 1991 and 1993. The Sandown Class Single Role Minehunters (SRMHs) are the latest mine countermeasures vessels (MCMVs) in service with the Royal Navy and are designed to complement the Hunt Class mine countermeasures vessels. As a result of experience gained during the build of the Hunt Class MCMVs, Vosper Thornycroft (UK) Ltd was invited to design the SRMH. The result is the Sandown Class Minehunter of which three SRMH variants are in service with the Royal Saudi Naval Forces.
Discussions had been held with France and other countries for the supply of up to eight submarines. Saudi Arabia only operates miniature submarines and swimmer delivery vehicles for their commando special operations. The badge was struck to symbolize the military specialty. The Ministry of Defense in Saudi Arabia is trying to place an order with Germany for coastal submarines. Submarine training is completed outside of the country.
Naval personnel strength, which was less than 1,000 in 1974, had reached 9,500 by 1991, including 1,500 marines. The marines were organized as an infantry regiment and were equipped with 140 armored vehicles of Spanish manufacture. It was reported in 1991 that an expansion of the marine corps was contemplated and new inventory requirements were being prepared.
The main naval headquarters were located at Riyadh. The navy was organized into the Western Fleet, with headquarters at Jiddah on the Red Sea, and the Eastern Fleet, with headquarters at Al Jubayl on the Persian Gulf. All four frigates were based in the Red Sea and the four corvettes in the Persian Gulf. Other naval facilities were located at Yanbu, Ad Dammam, and Ras al Mishab. The port of Ad Dammam had a large military sea terminal that proved fully adequate to handle United States and other cargoes during the buildup preceding the Persian Gulf War. The two main bases at Jiddah and Al Jubayl were constructed under SNEP. They were similar to the military cities of the army, with hardened command centers, family housing, schools, mosques, shopping centers, and recreational facilities for naval personnel and their families, in addition to maintenance, logistics, and training facilities.
On 14 June 2000, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress of a possible Foreign Military Sale of equipment and services to upgrade the Royal Saudi Naval Forces Command, Control and Communications System. The Government of Saudi Arabia has requested a possible sale of U.S. Government and contractor engineering, technical and logistics services in the development and implementation of a comprehensive 10 year program for the upgrade, development, operation and maintenance program, and system additions to the Royal Saudi Naval Forces (RSNF) Command, Control, and Communications (C3) System. The system additions will include, but are not limited to, installation of commercial data link and mobile communications equipment. The estimated cost is $257 million. This proposed sale will contribute to the foreign policy and national security of the United States by helping to improve the security of a friendly country which has been and continues to be an important force for political stability and economic progress in the Middle East. The RSNF need the equipment and services in order to modernize and enhance an aging C3 system that was provided during the period of 1974 through 2000. The program, which will provide commercially available equipment, material and services, will significantly enhance interoperability with U.S., NATO and other Saudi military forces operating in the region. The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not affect the basic military balance in the region. The principal contractors will be Science Applications International Corporation of San Diego, California; PE Systems of Alexandria, Virginia; and Booz, Allen, and Hamilton, Incorporated of McLean, Virginia. There are no offset agreements proposed in connection with this potential sale.
