US approves $3bn sustainment package for Saudi F-15 fleet
February 6, 2026
The US State Department has approved the possible Foreign Military Sale (FMS) to Saudi Arabia of equipment and support services related to the ongoing sustainment of the nation’s extensive fleet of Boeing F-15 Eagle fighters for an estimated cost of $3bn.
Approval of this prospective FMS was announced by the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) – which handles most of Washington’s impending military export sales – after it had notified US Congress of the proposed multi-billion deal on 3 February.
While Saudi Arabia has not requested the purchase of any new aircraft, the nation has requested the purchase of relevant equipment and services to support the ongoing sustainment and operation of its existing fleet of legacy F-15C/Ds and newer F-15S/SA jets.
In confirming that this deal had been given an initial green light, the DSCA said: “This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security objectives of the [US] by improving the security of a major non-NATO ally that is a force for political stability and economic progress in the Gulf region.”
What’s included in Saudi Arabia’s F-15 sustainment package?
The DSCA’s announcement on 3 February confirmed that no major system or weapons are to be included with this latest FMS, with the $3bn deal being purely for operational aircraft sustainment and maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) purposes.
The DSCA said the F-15 sustainment package for Saudi Arabia will include:
- Spares and repair parts
- Consumables and accessories
- Repair and return support
- Ground and personnel equipment
- Classified and unclassified publications and technical documentation
- Personnel training and training equipment
- US government and contractor engineering support
- Technical and logistics support services
- Other related elements of logistics and programme support
The agency noted that various contractors would be involved in providing the relevant F-15 sustainment equipment and services to Saudi Arabia. It also noted that the proposed sale may see a small number of additional long-term US civilian contractors or military personnel being assigned to support the project in Saudi Arabia.
“The proposed sale will enhance Saudi Arabia’s capability to deter current and future threats by providing sustainment and training support for the Royal Saudi Air Force’s F-15 fleet. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will have no difficulty absorbing this equipment and services into its armed forces,” the DSCA added.
Legacy Eagles: A look at the Saudi Air Force’s veteran F-15C/Ds
According to fleet data published by the aviation analytics provider, Cirium, the Royal Saudi Air Force (RSAF) currently operates a staggering 232 examples of the US-built F-15 Eagle fighter in total.
This figure comprises 80 legacy F-15C/Ds and 152 newer, more enhanced F-15S/SA (Saudi Advanced) jets. In terms of numbers, the RSAF is the biggest export customer for the Boeing-produced F-15 and continues to operate the second largest Eagle fleet in the world after the US Air Force (USAF).
Saudi Arabia boasts a long history of operations with the F-15 family. The nation ordered a complement of single-seat F-15Cs and dual-seat F-15Ds to fill its combat aircraft requirements in the late-1970s and welcomed its first examples of the type to Saudi Arabia in 1982 under the ‘Peace Sun’ programme.
Since then, the platform has formed the backbone of the RSAF’s air combat operations in several military campaigns across the Middle East, such as supporting Saudi Arabia’s intervention in the ongoing civil war in Yemen, which began in September 2014.
The RSAF continues to operate the legacy F-15C/D – which is now approaching the twilight of its long service career – alongside the newer, more advanced and capable F-15S/SA jets. The RSAF’s remaining legacy F-15C/D fleet is employed by four units across three separate bases in Saudi Arabia. This comprises:
- Aviation Wing 3’s No 13 Squadron at King Abdullah Aziz Air Base in Dhahran;
- Aviation Wing 7’s No 2 Squadron at King Faisal Air Base in Tabuk, and;
- Aviation Wing 10’s No 5 and 34 Squadrons at King Fahd Air Base in Taif.
Advanced Eagles: Inside Saudi Arabia’s enhanced F-15 fleet
While the F-15C/D was developed specifically for air superiority operations, the F-15S is a derivative of the F-15E Strike Eagle and is heavily optimised for conducting both air-to-air and air-to-ground engagements. The more advanced F-15SA – which is the latest version of the mighty Eagle family to enter operational service with the RSAF – is an enhanced version of the capable Strike Eagle design.
Riyadh acquired its 72-strong F-15S fleet in the early 1990s, with deliveries taking place between 1995 and 1999. While based on the dual-seat F-15E, the Strike Eagles acquired by Saudi Arabia were delivered with downgraded avionics, radar and self-defence suites.
In December 2011, the US government approved the sale of 84 new-build and enhanced F-15SA jets to Saudi Arabia, along with permitting the upgrade of 68 (later 66) existing F-15Ss to the new SA-standard. Driven by a pair of GE Aerospace F110-GE-129 afterburning turbofan engines, the newer F-15SA represents a step-up in capability for the RSAF’s venerable Eagle fleet.
An advanced derivative of the Strike Eagle, the F-15SA employs a new fly-by-wire flight control system; additional underwing hardpoints (allowing it to carry up to 12 air-to-air missiles and 24 air-to-ground weapons); an expanded arsenal of munitions and targeting pods; and a new digital ‘glass cockpit’, active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar and electronic warfare (EW) system.
The RSAF’s F-15S/SA fleet is currently employed by six units across five bases in Saudi Arabia. This includes:
- Aviation Wing 5’s No 6 Squadron (F-15S/SA) and No 55 Squadron (F-15SA) at King Khalid Air Base in Asir;
- Aviation Wing 7’s No 29 Squadron (F-15SA) at King Faisal Air Base;
- Aviation Wing 11’s Fighter Weapons School (F-15SA) at King Abdullah Aziz Air Base;
- Aviation Wing 15’s No 17 Squadron (F-15S/SA) and No 92 Squadron (F-15S) at King Saud Air Base in Hafar al-Batin, and;
- Aviation Wing 16’s No 15 Squadron (F-15SA) at Al Jouf Air Base in Al-Jouf.
The RSAF’s No 15 Squadron is the latest F-15SA to be stood up and was activated during a ceremony at Al Jouf on 27 June 2025. The F-15SA is set to join the ranks of two additional RSAF units in the near future, namely Aviation Wing 10’s yet-to-be stood-up No 94 Squadron at King Fahd and Aviation Wing 15’s No 92 Squadron at King Saud, which already operates the F-15S.
Featured Image: A Saudi-operated F-15SA touches down at Nellis AFB, Nevada, after taking part in a mission during the US-led Exercise Red Flag 22-2 on 1 March 2022. Image: USAF/William R Lewis
