Is Saudi Arabia interested in the F-35?

[Falcon29]

If they are, are they planning for a A, B, or C variant? And will the USA allow KSA to integrate avionics technology like the Israeli deal? Lockheed is building the first batch with Israeli technology as part of the deal.

 

[untitled]

Saudi interest so far does not show up on the Lockheed Martin F-35 page

 

[Doritos11]

F15 seems much better, silent eagle or SA

 

[Falcon29]

F15 seems much better, silent eagle or SA

I know they already acquired SA, but why wouldn't they have interest in the F-35 for their navy maybe? And soon Israel will have them and they should not allow an upset to the balance in the region.

 

[BeyondHeretic]

If they are, are they planning for a A, B, or C variant? And will the USA allow KSA to integrate avionics technology like the Israeli deal? Lockheed is building the first batch with Israeli technology as part of the deal.

Why not the S variant , or SS for that matter , anyhow I think Israel is interested in f-35 cause of its nature...

 

[Doritos11]

I know they already acquired SA, but why wouldn't they have interest in the F-35 for their navy maybe? And soon Israel will have them and they should not allow an upset to the balance in the region.

Navy ?
You need aircraft carriers for that, even if it is the vertical version it needs carriers first, not even needed unless they plan to have air power in other regions.

 

[BeyondHeretic]

I know they already acquired SA, but why wouldn't they have interest in the F-35 for their navy maybe? And soon Israel will have them and they should not allow an upset to the balance in the region.

I think the US kinda forced Israel in the f-35 program like they did turkey to grab their money

 

[Falcon29]

Why not the S variant , or SS for that matter , anyhow I think Israel is interested in f-35 cause of its nature...

Israel wants it to keep a military advantage in the region, not necessarily to attack Iran. Which even if they acquire the planes they still need to make a difficult decision which israel is not adapted to. They don't declare wars on countries able to defend themselves.

 

[BeyondHeretic]

Israel wants it to keep a military advantage in the region, not necessarily to attack Iran. Which even if they acquire the planes they still need to make a difficult decision which israel is not adapted to. They don't declare wars on countries able to defend themselves.

I think you are right , Israel has been acting stupid recently , I don't know why but I think it's because they are bored in the confinement they are in , but still you are right , Israel shouldn't declare war on nations like iran

 

[Mosamania]

I know they already acquired SA, but why wouldn't they have interest in the F-35 for their navy maybe? And soon Israel will have them and they should not allow an upset to the balance in the region.

Currently our AirForce is extremely busy on inducting two new Aircrafts already, the F-15SA will replace the F-15S. The Typhoon is replacing the F-5s. However down the road in 2020 perhaps we will be forced to retire the Tornadoes, so maybe by 2017 or 2018 a 5th generation aircraft (Most likely F-35) deal will be signed. By the. It will become cheaper and more mature.

Currently the Typhoons and F-15SAs serves their role extremelly will, even when Israel eventually induct the F-35s in around 2018 they will be hard pressed to "Match" our capabilities then. And Israel is only getting 25 F-35s then. And with only 100 F-16is and 25 F-15is to face our fleet of 72+ Eurofighters, and 156 F15SAs and 85 Panavia Tornadoes.

The IAF won't throw in other aircrafts at KSA because it simply can't match it.

 

[Falcon29]

I think the US kinda forced Israel in the f-35 program like they did turkey to grab their money

It's mostly through contracts in the USA and tax payer money, Israel isn't paying that much. It's more if the FMF money received and contracts awarded by the Pentagon which usually always funds weapon programs going to israel for free. Of course the excuse pro israel supporters make is that it create jobs in the defense industry. Sometimes they like to compare it aid going to arabic nations or other Muslim nations which even if more in money is not near the value or technology that goes to israel. Which is way over the $3 billion they claim only goes to israel. While leaving out all the congress funding and contracts awarded.

 

[Mosamania]

Navy ?
You need aircraft carriers for that, even if it is the vertical version it needs carriers first, not even needed unless they plan to have air power in other regions.

Not really, many navies around the world operate fighters without aircraft carriers. They take specialized customizations for their fighters and equip them with Air-Surface missiles and Air superiority role. They have proven to be very effective at sea operations, more so than the AirForce.

 

[BeyondHeretic]

Currently our AirForce is extremely busy on inducting two new Aircrafts already, the F-15SA will replace the F-15S. The Typhoon is replacing the F-5s. However down the road in 2020 perhaps we will be forced to retire the Tornadoes, so maybe by 2017 or 2018 a 5th generation aircraft (Most likely F-35) deal will be signed. By the. It will become cheaper and more mature.

Currently the Typhoons and F-15SAs serves their role extremelly will, even when Israel eventually induct the F-35s in around 2018 they will be hard pressed to "Match" our capabilities then. And Israel is only getting 25 F-35s then. And with only 100 F-16is and 25 F-15is to face our fleet of 72+ Eurofighters, and 156 F15SAs and 85 Panavia Tornadoes.

The IAF won't throw in other aircrafts at KSA because it simply can't match it.

I think the IAF is not planning on matching the KSA airforce , anyhow if it comes to that they can start to boast about their inventory of missiles and nukes , and by they I mean jewish members of this forum.

 

[Mosamania]

It's mostly through contracts in the USA and tax payer money, Israel isn't paying that much. It's more if the FMF money received and contracts awarded by the Pentagon which usually always funds weapon programs going to israel for free. Of course the excuse pro israel supporters make is that it create jobs in the defense industry. Sometimes they like to compare it aid going to arabic nations or other Muslim nations which even if more in money is not near the value or technology that goes to israel. Which is way over the $3 billion they claim only goes to israel. While leaving out all the congress funding and contracts awarded.

People overestimate Israel dramatically of you ask me, Israel is overestimated as much as KSA is underestimated. Due to financial issues Israel wasn't able to acquire more than 25 F-15is. They wanted more and they still do but they can't.

 

[Falcon29]

Currently our AirForce is extremely busy on inducting two new Aircrafts already, the F-15SA will replace the F-15S. The Typhoon is replacing the F-5s. However down the road in 2020 perhaps we will be forced to retire the Tornadoes, so maybe by 2017 or 2018 a 5th generation aircraft (Most likely F-35) deal will be signed. By the. It will become cheaper and more mature.

Currently the Typhoons and F-15SAs serves their role extremelly will, even when Israel eventually induct the F-35s in around 2018 they will be hard pressed to "Match" our capabilities then. And Israel is only getting 25 F-35s then. And with only 100 F-16is and 25 F-15is to face our fleet of 72+ Eurofighters, and 156 F15SAs and 85 Panavia Tornadoes.

The IAF won't throw in other aircrafts at KSA because it simply can't match it.

I agree about the timetable, maybe by 2017 they would have interest. Which seems reasonable since israel is getting the out of the factory sorties with the same technology by the UK/US just made by Israeli industries for their economical purposes. And I'm still wondering where israel would do their maintenance for their 5th generation planes and I read that the US is demanding them to be done in Europe. Also comes to kind about the KSA, maybe they can do theirs in Turkey.

If you say so with confidence then I do believe you. Eventually israel will have 70 aircraft and that's when I foresee KSA acquiring some B versions maybe like the UK is.

I also wish to see by then their missiles and helmet technology made in the KSA on their planes just as israel is. And it would have to be negotiated with the US and KSA should back down if they won't be allowed to put their sorties.