“Quite right about the Saudis — they have tons of equipment. I question not only whether they have the manpower to use the hardware, but whether they have the maintenance personnel to maintain it. Saudis are not renowned for there technical skills.”
Its not a question. They don’t. Saudi contracts out most of its maintenance and over half of its US armor is in storage because they do not have the personnel to man it. De facto US prepositioning equipment funded by Saudi and supported by US FMS via MAAG Riyadh.
The first day of class, six Saudis showed up. The second day it was five — No. 6 was never seen again.
Attendance in class was spotty at best. No. 4 and 5 disappeared during week two. No. 3 would show up about one-third of the time and No. 2 seemed to come on the days No. 3 was off. No. 1 got showed up enough to absorb half the course.
A week before graduation was supposed to happen, the Lockheed instructor was asked how many would graduate to be certified as C-130 mechanics. The answer was none. Asked why, he responded “because the either weren't there or just took off and never came back.”
The Saudis eventually subcontracted the C-130 maintenance to the Pakistanis.