Product Details

The Royal Saudi Air Force purchased Northrop Grumman F-5Bs and F-5Es with the first being delivered by in-flight Trans-Atlantic crossings arriving in February 1974. The first two squadrons were operational by late 1975 and began to replace the BAC Lightning. By 1977 there were 35 F-5s based at Dhahran and 35 at Khamis Mushait. By 1978 the F-5E was the Saudi main multi-role fighter. In January 1985 the first of 10 RF-5Es began to arrive. At least 4 of the RF-5Es arrived with all black paint schemes.