Saudi Arabia National Guard to launch air wing with $25bn helicopter purchase

Arabian Aerospace ^ | 11/28/2010 | Arabian Aerospace

[ErnstStavroBlofeld]

Arabian Aerospace has learned that Riyadh will spent $25.6bn on setting up the SANG Aviation Command through the purchase of 156 helicopters including Apache and Little Bird AH6 models..

Saudi has previously confirmed a requirement for 190 helicopters but it had previously been expected that these would be for the RSAF.

The National Guard heads the internal security within the Kingdom and is directly descended from King Abdul Aziz Al Saud’s Ikhwan (Brotherhood), or White Army as it was sometimes called. This was the King’s instrument for subduing and unifying the various disparate tribes of the Arabian Peninsula to form the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Once organized along tribal lines, and commanded by tribal sheiks today’s SANG continues to draw heavily for its members from select Bedouin tribes which have a record of unquestioning loyalty to the Crown. As a result of this history, the SANG has a long tradition of loyalty to both the nation and its ruling family.

SANG saw an Aviation Command added to its portfolio in 2006 but until now, had no aircraft to its name,

The 156 aircraft include 72 armed helicopters, which will be used for the defense of vital installations, including borders and oil infrastructure, and for supporting ground forces tasked with protecting such installations.

Unsurprisingly, the SANG aviation regiment will receive the 36 Boeing AH-6i Little Bird light attack helicopters included in the new arms deal. Unsurprisingly, as the light and simple AH-6i is a natural fit for a new air arm. These will carry Wescam MX-15Di (AN/AAQ-35) undernose turrets, containing EO targeting systems. The aircraft will be armed with GAU-19/A .50 caliber gun pods and will be supplied with launchers that will allow them to use the AGM-114R Hellfire II Anti-Tank Guided Missile

[ErnstStavroBlofeld]

Ping

[ZULU]

Maybe the Wahhabi nuts can spend some of THEIR money and some of THEIR lives taking out Iran, instead of relying on the US to help them out all the time.

Whoa. That can never happen. One Muslim State isn’t supposed to attack another (Sarcasm)

[rbg81]

Sometimes I wonder if we didn’t take out Iran because doing so wouldn’t motivate the Gulf states to spend more $$ on our weapons.

[ZULU]

Much as I despise the Wikileaks idiot and his work. a great deal of the information is embarrassing to the Obama administration.

I continue to find the influence that the Saudi’s have on western politicians ominous, suspicious, and potentially treasonous.

If its so important to those bastards for someone to take out the Iranians, and we decide to do it, we should DEMAND the Saudis foot a good part of the bill, provide part of any necessary military force, and cut us a break on oil prices.

Of course, they would NEVER support with men or money an effort by “infidels” to attack another Islamic state. Its simply against their religion, even if in their best interests.

I only hate the Saudis a little less than I hate the Iranians - and not by much.