Royal Saudi Navy

Royal Saudi Naval Force
Royal Saudi Naval Force
البحرية السعودية
	Emblem of the Royal Saudi Navy
Founded	1789 (historical); 1960 (official)
Country	Saudi Arabia
Type	Navy
Role	Naval warfare
Size	13,500 approx. (inc. 3,000 marines)
Part of	Royal Armed Forces GSP (as of 1960);
Parent agency	Ministry Of Defense
Colors	Blue white
Equipment	7 frigates (4 u/c); 9 corvettes ; 39 patrol vessels; 3 minehunters; 2 support ships; 2 royal yachts
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 Mohammed Al-Gharibi
Notable; commanders	Abu al-A'war ; 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 Royal Saudi Naval Forces (RSNF),^[8]^{[note 1]} or Royal Saudi Navy,^{[note 2]} 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 Saudi territorial waters, ensuring regional freedom of navigation, and protecting commercial sea routes through multinational naval coalitions.^[9]^[8]

The Royal Saudi Navy is organized into two fleets: The Eastern Fleet, which operates in the Persian Gulf from the King Abdulaziz Naval Base at Jubail, and the Western Fleet, which operates in the Red Sea from the King Faisal Naval Base at Jeddah. Each fleet has full military capability, including warships, support ships, administrative and technical support, naval aviation, marines and special security units.^[10]

Since the turn of the 21st century, the RSNF has undergone extensive efforts to expand and modernize its fleet, enhance its operational capabilities, and professionalize its personnel.^[11]^[12]

History

The navy was founded in 1960^[13]^[5] and began a significant expansion with United States assistance in 1972, with the aim 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.^[14]

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.^[15]

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).^[16] 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.^[16]

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.

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,^[17] 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.^[18]

Corvettes

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

Number	Ship	Builder	Completed	Status	Namesake
828	Al Jubail^[19]	Navantia	2022	In active service	Al Jubail City
830	Al Diriyah^[20]		2022	In active service	Al Diriyah City
832	Hail^[21]		2022	In active service	Hail City
834	Jazan^[22]		2023	In active service	Jazan City
836	Unaizah		2024	In active service	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.

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

24 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.

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^[23]^{[needs update?]}

Minesweepers

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

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	CN La Ciotat	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, 10,000-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 500 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.^[24]

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.^[25]

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.^[26] In October 2015, the US Congress was informed of a possible sale of Multi-Mission Surface Combatant (MMSC) Ships, a variant of the LCS.^[27]

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.^[28]

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)^[29] – Persian Gulf home port for the Saudi Royal family's two Royal Yachts

Ranks

Officer ranks

Rank group	General / flag officers										Senior officers						Junior officers
Royal Saudi Navy^[30] v t e
Royal Saudi Navy^[30] 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^[30] v t e																																			No insignia
Royal Saudi Navy^[30] v t e							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.^[31] The attack took place near the port city of Al Hudaydah, 150 kilometers southwest of the Yemeni capital Sana'a.

References

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^ "Royal Saudi Naval Force". Archived from the original on 28 June 2020. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
^ IISS (2021). The Military Balance 2021. Routledge. p. 364. ISBN 978-1-032-01227-8.
^ CIA (2021). The CIA World Factbook 2021-2022. Skyhorse Publishing. p. 842. ISBN 978-1-5107-6381-4.
^ ^a ^b Gray, Matthew (2014). Global Security Watch—Saudi Arabia. ABC-CLIO. p. 41. ISBN 9780313387005. Archived from the original on 3 November 2018. Retrieved 11 September 2017.
^ "Bahrain – McGill School of Computer Science". Archived from the original on 9 October 2016. Retrieved 21 September 2016.
^ https://www.spa.gov.sa/en/N2162669
^ ^a ^b "Royal Saudi Naval Forces". Gov.Sa.
^ Matamis, Joaquin (26 October 2023). "Saudi Navy Assumes New Leadership Role in US-led Maritime Coalitions • Stimson Center". Stimson Center. Retrieved 2 December 2024.
^ "sdarabia". sdarabia.com. 3 August 2017. Archived from the original on 3 August 2017. Retrieved 24 December 2019.
^ Hedges, Matthew (15 April 2018). "Saudi Arabia's modernization considerations for its West Coast fleet". Gulf State Analytics. Retrieved 2 December 2024.
^ Helou, Agnes (9 September 2022). "Saudi naval modernization pushes ahead, with eye always on Iran". Breaking Defense. Retrieved 2 December 2024.
^ Zuhur, Sherifa (2011). Saudi Arabia. ABC-CLIO. p. 434. ISBN 9781598845716. Archived from the original on 3 November 2018. Retrieved 11 September 2017.
^ 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
^ "Lockheed Inks 2 Billion Contract For Saudi Frigate". 20 December 2019. Archived from the original on 14 February 2023. Retrieved 16 May 2021.
^ ^a ^b "Al Riyadh (F3000S Sawari II) Class, Saudi Arabia". www.naval-technology.com. Archived from the original on 8 October 2015. Retrieved 30 October 2015.
^ The Independent Archived 26 November 2010 at the Wayback Machine, "UK seeks £2bn Saudi destroyer contract" By Michael Harrison, 9 March 2007
^ Defense News^{[dead link‍]}, "Saudi Arabia Mulling BMD-Capable Destroyers" By Christopher P. Cavas , 13 June 2011
^ "Saudi Arabia signs deal with Spanish firm for five warships". Arabian Business. 20 July 2018. Archived from the original on 22 July 2020. Retrieved 11 September 2018.
^ Writer, DP Staff. "Navantia Launches Second Avante 2200 Corvette Al Diriyah For Royal Saudi Naval Forces". DefPost. Archived from the original on 22 January 2021. Retrieved 29 November 2020.
^ "Navantia Launched 3rd Avante 2200 Corvette For Royal Saudi Navy". 29 March 2021. Archived from the original on 30 July 2021. Retrieved 16 May 2021.
^ "RSNF Commander Patronizes Ceremonial Launching of His Majesty's Ship "Jazan"". Archived from the original on 14 February 2023. Retrieved 25 July 2021.
^ "Kingdom of Saudi Arabia – Mark V Patrol Boats". Archived from the original on 24 December 2014. Retrieved 24 December 2014.
^ Ghazanfar Ali Khan (4 August 2016). "KSA set to get 48 German patrol boats". Arab News. Archived from the original on 20 November 2016. Retrieved 20 November 2016.
^ "Report: Saudi Arabia Eyes Buying German Submarines". Defense News. Archived from the original on 4 November 2013. Retrieved 24 December 2014.
^ FMS of MK 41 Vertical Launch Systems May Indicate Purchase of LCS or DDG by Saudi Arabia Archived 22 December 2014 at the Wayback Machine – Navyrecognition.com, 18 December 2014
^ "Kingdom of Saudi Arabia - Multi-Mission Surface Combatant (MMSC) Ships" (Press release). Defense Security Cooperation Agency. 20 October 2015. Archived from the original on 22 December 2015. Retrieved 20 December 2015.
^ "Saudi Arabia signs deal with Spanish firm for five warships". Arabian Business. 20 July 2018. Archived from the original on 11 September 2018. Retrieved 11 September 2018.
^ Cordesman, Anthony H. (20 May 2019). Saudi Arabia: Guarding The Desert Kingdom. Routledge. ISBN 978-0-429-96600-2. Archived from the original on 14 February 2023. Retrieved 20 November 2020.
^ ^a ^b 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.
^ Gibbons-Neff, Thomas (6 February 2017). "Video emerges of suicide boat ramming Saudi frigate". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on 6 February 2017. Retrieved 7 February 2017.