Royal Saudi Navy

This article is about the Royal Saudi Navy. For other Royal Navies, see Royal Navy (disambiguation).

The Royal Saudi Navy (Arabic: البَحْريَّة الْمَلكيَّة السُّعُودِيَّة, romanized: Al-Quwwat al-Bahriyah al-Arabiyah as-Su'udiyah) or Royal Saudi Naval Forces (Arabic: القُوَّات البَحْريَّة الْمَلكيَّة السُّعُودِيَّة, romanized: Al-Quwwat al-Bahriyah al-Malakiyah as-Su'udiyah), 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 the Saudi territorial waters against military or economic intrusion, and participating in international naval alliances.

Royal Saudi Naval Force
البحرية السعودية
Emblem of the Royal Saudi Navy
Founded	1789 (historical)^[1] 1960 (official)^[2]
Country	Saudi Arabia
Type	Navy
Role	Naval warfare
Size	13,500 approx. (inc. 3,000 marines) ^[3]^[4]
Part of	Royal Armed Forces GSP (as of 1960)^[5]
Parent agency	Ministry Of Defense^[6]
Colors	Blue   white
Equipment	7 Frigate (4 u/c) 4 corvette (5 u/c) 39 patrol vessel 3 Minehunter 2 support ship 2 royal yacht
Engagements	List of wars involving RSNF
Decorations	Naval Forces Medal - 1st Class Naval Forces Medal - 2nd Class Naval Forces Medal - 3rd Class
Website	rsnf.gov.sa
Commanders
Current commander	V. Admiral Fahd al-Ghofaily
Notable commanders	Rahmah ibn Jabir al-Jalhami
Insignia
Seal
Ensign
Jack
Flag
Pennant
Aircraft flown
Helicopter	AS332 Super Puma
Utility helicopter	AS565 SA Dauphin Sikorsky MH-60R

The Navy operates from multiple bases along the 2,500 kilometres (1,600 mi) Saudi coastline, with two fleets.

• The Eastern Fleet operates in the Persian Gulf from the King Abdulaziz Naval Base at Jubail.
• The Western Fleet operates in the Red Sea from the King Faisal Naval Base at Jeddah.

Each fleet has a full military capability including warships, support ships, administrative and technical support, naval aviation, marines and special security units.^[7]

History

The Navy was founded in 1960^[8][5] and began a significant expansion with United States assistance in 1972 aiming 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.^[9]

Ships

The navy is a modern force with foreign built ships:

• French-built frigates and support vessels
• U.S.-built corvettes and patrol boats
• British-built Sandown-class minehunters

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.^[10]

Photo	Number	Ship	Builder	Completed	Status
			Marinette Marine		On order
					On order
					On order
					On order

3 Al Riyadh-class frigates are modified versions of the La Fayette-class frigate (built by DCN, Lorient).^[11] 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.^[11]

Photo	Number	Ship	Builder	Commissioned	Status	Namesake
	812	Al Riyadh	DCN Lorient	2002	In active service	Riyadh City
	814	Makkah		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.

Photo	Number	Ship	Builder	Completed	Status
	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,^[12] however production of the destroyers came to an end with no order made. Another destroyer that the Saudis are considering is the American built Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, 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.^[13]

Corvettes

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

Photo	Number	Ship	Builder	Completed	Status	Namesake
	828	Al Jubail^[14]	Navantia	2022		Al Jubail City
	830	Al Diriyah^[15]			Fitting out	Al Diriyah City
	832	Hail^[16]			Launched	Hail City
	834	Jazan^[17]			Launched	Jazan City
	836	Unaizah			Launched	Unaizah City

4 Badr-class corvettes 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.

Photo	Number	Ship	Builder	Completed	Status
	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

9 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.

Photo	Number	Ship	Builder	Completed	Status
	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

• Possible sale of 30 Mark V Special Operations Craft^{[18][needs update?]}

Minesweepers

3 Sandown-class minehunters (built by Vosper Thornycroft, Woolston), full load displacement of 480 tons:

Photo	Number	Ship	Builder	Completed	Status
	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 Boraida-class replenishment oiler (modified Durance-class replenishment ships built by CN La Ciotat, with a helicopter deck aft and hangars for 2 helicopters.

Photo	Number	Ship	Builder	Completed	Status
	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	USA	ASW/ASuW Helicopter	MH-60R	10	Ordered May 2015 – armed with Hellfire missiles
Eurocopter AS332 Super Puma	FRA	ASW helicopter	B1, M1, F1S1, F1S2	20
AS565 SA Dauphin	FRA	SAR helicopter	AS565 SA	24

Marines

The Royal Saudi Navy maintains two, 1,500-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 200 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.^[19]

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.^[20]

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 Arleigh Burke-class destroyer and the Multi-mission Combat Ship version of the Freedom-class littoral combat ship able to carry a VLS.^[21] In October 2015, the US Congress was informed of a possible sale of Multi-Mission Surface Combatant (MMSC) Ships, a variant of the LCS.^[22]

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.^[23]

Bases

 

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

Main article: Saudi Arabian military ranks

Officer ranks

Rank group	General/flag officers										Senior officers						Junior officers								Officer cadet
Royal Saudi Navy^[25] v t e
			فريق أول‎‎ Fariq 'awal		فريق Fariq		لواء Liwa		عميد Amid		عقيد Aqid		مقدم Muqaddam		رائد Ra'id		نقيب Naqib		ملازم أول Mulazim awwal			ملازم Mulazim

Other ranks

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

Rank group	Senior NCOs																						Junior NCOs						Enlisted
Royal Saudi Navy^[25] v t e																																			No insignia
							رقيب أول Raqib 'awal		رقيب Raqib		وكيل رقيب Wakil raqib												عريف Earif						جندي أول Jundiun awwal						جندي‎‎ Jundiun‎‎

Incidents

On 30 January 2017 Al-Madinah was attacked by Houthi rebels using a suicide boat, killing 2 sailors and wounding 3 others.^[26] The attack took place near the port city of Al Hudaydah, 150 kilometers southwest of the Yemeni capital Sana'a.

References

1. George Snavely Rentz (1948). The Beginnings of Unitarian Empire in Arabia. University of California, Berkeley. p. 213.
2. . Archived from the original on 28 June 2020. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
3. IISS (2021). The Military Balance 2021. Routledge. p. 364. ISBN 978-1-032-01227-8.
4. CIA (2021). The CIA World Factbook 2021-2022. Skyhorse Publishing. p. 842. ISBN 978-1-5107-6381-4.
5. Gray, Matthew (2014). Global Security Watch—Saudi Arabia. ABC-CLIO. p. 41. ISBN 9780313387005. from the original on 3 November 2018. Retrieved 11 September 2017.
6. "Bahrain – McGill School of Computer Science". from the original on 9 October 2016. Retrieved 21 September 2016.
7. "sdarabia". sdarabia.com. 3 August 2017. from the original on 3 August 2017. Retrieved 24 December 2019.
8. Zuhur, Sherifa (2011). Saudi Arabia. ABC-CLIO. p. 434. ISBN 9781598845716. from the original on 3 November 2018. Retrieved 11 September 2017.
9. 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
10. "Lockheed Inks 2 Billion Contract For Saudi Frigate". 20 December 2019. from the original on 14 February 2023. Retrieved 16 May 2021.
11. "Al Riyadh (F3000S Sawari II) Class, Saudi Arabia". www.naval-technology.com. from the original on 8 October 2015. Retrieved 30 October 2015.
12. The Independent 26 November 2010 at the Wayback Machine, "UK seeks £2bn Saudi destroyer contract" By Michael Harrison, 9 March 2007
13. Defense News^{[dead link]}, "Saudi Arabia Mulling BMD-Capable Destroyers" By Christopher P. Cavas , 13 June 2011
14. "Saudi Arabia signs deal with Spanish firm for five warships". Arabian Business. 20 July 2018. from the original on 22 July 2020. Retrieved 11 September 2018.
15. Writer, DP Staff. . DefPost. Archived from the original on 22 January 2021. Retrieved 29 November 2020.
16. "Navantia Launched 3rd Avante 2200 Corvette For Royal Saudi Navy". 29 March 2021. from the original on 30 July 2021. Retrieved 16 May 2021.
17. "RSNF Commander Patronizes Ceremonial Launching of His Majesty's Ship "Jazan"". from the original on 14 February 2023. Retrieved 25 July 2021.
18. "Kingdom of Saudi Arabia – Mark V Patrol Boats". from the original on 24 December 2014. Retrieved 24 December 2014.
19. Ghazanfar Ali Khan (4 August 2016). "KSA set to get 48 German patrol boats". Arab News. from the original on 20 November 2016. Retrieved 20 November 2016.
20. "Report: Saudi Arabia Eyes Buying German Submarines". Defense News. Archived from the original on 4 November 2013. Retrieved 24 December 2014.
21. FMS of MK 41 Vertical Launch Systems May Indicate Purchase of LCS or DDG by Saudi Arabia 22 December 2014 at the Wayback Machine – Navyrecognition.com, 18 December 2014
22. "Kingdom of Saudi Arabia - Multi-Mission Surface Combatant (MMSC) Ships" (Press release). Defense Security Cooperation Agency. 20 October 2015. from the original on 22 December 2015. Retrieved 20 December 2015.
23. "Saudi Arabia signs deal with Spanish firm for five warships". Arabian Business. 20 July 2018. from the original on 11 September 2018. Retrieved 11 September 2018.
24. Cordesman, Anthony H. (20 May 2019). Saudi Arabia: Guarding The Desert Kingdom. Routledge. ISBN 978-0-429-96600-2. from the original on 14 February 2023. Retrieved 20 November 2020.
25. Tartter, Jean R. (1993). "National Security". In Metz, Helen Chapin (ed.). Saudi Arabia: a country study. Area Handbook (5th ed.). Washington, D.C.: Library of Congress. pp. 270–271. LCCN 93028506. Retrieved 23 October 2021.
26. Gibbons-Neff, Thomas (6 February 2017). "Video emerges of suicide boat ramming Saudi frigate". The Washington Post. from the original on 6 February 2017. Retrieved 7 February 2017.

See also

• Coast guard

Sources

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

Notes