The U.S. Department of State has made a determination approving a possible foreign military sale to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for their purchase of F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter and related equipment. The estimated total cost is $24.3 billion.
This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security objectives of the United States by improving the security of a major non-NATO ally that is a force for political stability and economic progress in the Gulf region.
https://t.co/3AYA17VWRN
9 July 1991. A KA-6D Intruder “Lizard 515,” USS Abraham Lincoln, Indian Ocean. Lt. Mark Baden (pilot) and Lt. Keith Gallagher (BN) were on a tanker mission. It was Gallagher’s 26th birthday and would have been his 100th carrier trap. One of the drop tanks had a stuck float valve and wouldn’t transfer the remaining fuel. To free it, Baden pulled the nose up a few degrees, then pushed forward and applied about half a negative G. It was just enough to float them in their seats. That negative-G load was all it took. The top latch on Gallagher’s Martin-Baker seat had a fatigue crack. It failed, the seat slid up the rails, the right side of the canopy shattered, and Gallagher was blasted outside the cockpit. His parachute deployed and wrapped around the tail, and the only things still holding him to the airplane were the parachute risers. Baden looked over, saw his BN hanging in the windblast, and immediately called Mayday: “My BN has been partially ejected. I need an emergency pull-forward!” He stayed with the jet, slowed it down, and trapped it safely about six minutes later. Gallagher survived (serious shoulder and nerve injuries) and was back flying six months later. Baden received the Air Medal.🇺🇸🫡
بناء على الأمر الملكي الكريم، قلَّد سفير خادم الحرمين الشريفين الأمير/ سعد بن منصور بن سعد آل سعود، المقدم الطيار/ محمد عبدالله الفارس(أحد دارسي دورة القياده والأركان في الدوحة) رتبته الجديدة (عقيد طيار)، بحضور سعادة الملحق العسكري بالسفارة العقيد الفني الركن/ حمود عيد المشيطي.
One of the reasons I took photos was I knew in later life I wouldn't remember 1/2 - the pilot I flew with taking pics of the RSAF ADV delivery swore there was only 2 aircraft - the camera doesn't lie
RSAF Lightning FMK53 53-666 armed with 2 x 500lbs bombs - It was a good multi role fighter but it could have been even better with a proper gunsight and INAS. Sadly the UK fell out of love with teh Lightning before it was fully developed,
The Lightning is well known for being RAF and British but it also served with distinction in Saudi Arabia - It is part of the RSAFs DNA and propelled them into the high tech Mach 2 era - RAF pilots were seconded to help set up the new air force Hedley Mollland great photographer
وشملت مناورات التمرين سيناريوهات عملياتية متقدمة، تضمنت محاكاة تهديدات جوية وصاروخية متعددة الأبعاد، ومناورات جوية مشتركة، وتمارين ميدانية تكاملية، ركزت على تحسين التشغيل البيني، وتعزيز منظومات القيادة والسيطرة، ورفع كفاءة العمل ضمن بيئة عمليات مشتركة.
#وزارة_الدفاع
Royal Saudi Air Force (RSAF) acquired total of 34 Lightnings including single-seat F.53 fighter variants and two-seat T.55 trainers. Delivered 1966-1968, they were used to protect Saudi airspace and train pilots in high-speed interception during period of growing regional tension
A sad selection of ex-Royal Saudi Arabian Air Force EE (BAC) Lightnings, bought back by to the UK by BAe in 1986, at the end of their service life.
This photo was taken in 1997, when some of them were at Marine Salvage Ltd, just off the M275 into Portsmouth.😢
The Royal Saudi Air Force operated the Lightning for many years and saw combat. > the Mach 2.0 + fighter formed the basis for what is one of the most modern capable air forces in the world - They operated the F52/F53/T54/T55 and a single P1B ( ground only )