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Currently, the most advanced F-15 Eagles on the planet belong to the Royal Saudi Air Force which has a decades-long history with the type. In its latest iteration, known as the F-15SA, the mighty Strike Eagle has been vastly upgraded. One of the type's most prominent new features is the activation of the Eagle's long-dormant outer-wing stores stations number one and nine. This was made possible with the help of the F-15SA's new fly-by-wire flight control system. With this upgrade, the Eagle can fly with a wide array of new weapons configurations, including being able to turn into an air-to-air...

In an exclusive interview with Al Arabiya on the sidelines of the Future Investment Initiative, Boeing President Bertrand-Marc (Marc) Allen said the manufacturing of F15 aircraft wings and other military aircraft parts would take place inside Saudi Arabia. “We need to get you out to our al-Salam subsidiary here in the Kingdom. We’re building wings for F-15s, we’re building fuselage parts. We are doing massive conversions where we’re taking older F-15s and converting them to brand new F-15SAs,” Allen told Al Arabiya’s Maya Jureidini during an exclusive interview from Riyadh. “All of this (are) pretty advanced manufacturing, a lot of...

Jan 25 Saudi Arabia flaunted its new F-15SA fighter jet at an airshow in Riyadh on Wednesday, demonstrating that it has begun receiving items purchased six years ago in the priciest-ever U.S. arms sale to a foreign country. King Salman and his son, Defence Minister and Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, watched the spectacle as graduates of the King Faisal Air College performed military marches and fighter jets swooped overhead. The Obama administration approved the $60 billion deal in 2010 amid mounting U.S. and Saudi tensions with Iran. The deal dwarfed previous multibillion-dollar sales to Saudi Arabia, which for...

It is only fitting that the long-awaited deliveries of both Israel’s and Saudi Arabia’s newest jet fighters are occurring at the same time. For many decades, the US has carefully armed the two foes heavily, always giving Israel the qualitative advantage. This continues to today as the IAF will not only be the first foreign operational user of the F-35, it will also be the only country to get the jet in the Middle East. Turkey, a NATO ally, will be the closest country geographically to also operate the type. Still, Saudi Arabia did not get any sort of consolation...

The F-15SA is the most advanced production F-15 Eagle ever built. Saudi Arabia ordered 84 new build F-15SAs and close to 70 kits to upgrade their existing F-15S fleet to the SA configuration. Just one part of this upgrade is the activation of Eagle’s outboard wing stores stations, which will expand the jet’s already heavy combat punch. Update: Boeing reached out to tell us they’re marketing the F-15SA configuration for export to other potential users as the “F-15 Advanced.” The F-15SA is an incredibly capable machine, featuring some key changes from its progenitor, the F-15E Strike Eagle. These include a...

3/13/2013 - WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio -- The U.S. Air Force and its prime contractor, Boeing have completed a successful first flight of the new F-15SA advanced fighter aircraft for the Royal Saudi Air Force. The F-15SA's maiden voyage took place on Feb. 20 at the Boeing facilities in St. Louis, Mo. The flight went as planned, meeting all test objectives to support the aircraft's on-schedule development. "The successful first flight of the F-15SA is a tremendous milestone for the program and a testament to the relationship between the USAF, Boeing, and our RSAF partners," said Lt. Gen. C....

Boeing has received a previously announced contract worth $11.4 billion to supply Saudi Arabia with 84 F-15SA Strike Eagle fighters, the US military announced on 8 March. "This particular undefinitsed contract action covers development efforts for the new aircraft and retrofit as well as procurement of the 84 new production aircraft," the announcement reads. "Work is expected to be completed October 2020." The sale was finalised last December when the Saudis signed a letter of offer and acceptance for a package of 84 new jets, upgrades to 70 older F-15S fighters, and associated weapons systems and sensors. The F-15SA is...

HONOLULU – The Obama administration and Saudi Arabia have reached an agreement approving the sale of combat aircraft worth nearly $30 billion to the Saudi air force, the White House announced Thursday. The deal clears the way for the sale of 84 new F-15SA fighter jets and the modernization of another 70 already in the Saudi fleet, plus the production of munitions, spare parts, training, maintenance and logistics. Saudi Arabia is a key U.S. ally in the Arab world, especially because of its ardent opposition to Iran, which intensified earlier this year as Iranian operatives were alleged to have attempted...

Robins official says massive Saudi F-15 sale remains on track despite delays by Gene Rector The Warner Robins Patriot 10.25.11 - 12:48 pm A senior Robins Air Force Base official believes the massive $29.4 billion upgrade to the Royal Saudi Air Force’s F-15 fleet remains on track although the Saudi government has not yet signed the agreement. The pending sale calls for delivery of 84 new F-15SA or “Saudi advanced” jets and the upgrade of 70 RSAF F-15S aircraft. The package also includes updates at five Saudi bases, new weaponry, training and sustainment through 2020. Final agreement from the Saudi...