Previous Stories

Keesler gearing up for additional training responsibility <br> Saudi Arabia investing $29.4 billion in F-15 program

  • Published
  • By Air Force News Service, Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs
  • and Keesler Public Affairs
WASHINGTON --  Air Force officials announced the next chapter in a partnership with the Royal Saudi Air Force as the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia recently signed a $29.4 billion Foreign Military Sales Letter of Offer and Acceptance solidifying their plans to purchase 84 F-15SA fighter aircraft and upgrade their current fleet of 70 F-15S aircraft to the Saudi Arabian configuration.

Keesler is one of the Air Force bases where Saudi airmen involved in the program will attend technical training.

"The Saudi students associated with the F-15 purchase will be trained in either avionic fundamentals or precision measurement equipment laboratory courses in the 335th Training Squadron," said Col. Maureen Smith, 81st Training Group commander. "Keesler has a proud history of providing training to our international partners and we look forward to continuing this support under the new F-15SA agreement."

In 2011, Keesler hosted students from more than 20 foreign countries, including Saudi Arabia, for a variety of courses, according to James Cooks, director of the Keesler Military Student Office.

"We are excited about this program and the increased capability it will bring to Saudi Arabia, a strategically important partner in the Middle East region," said Heidi Grant, deputy undersecretary of the Air Force for International Affairs.

"Building partner capacity is becoming even more important and the Royal Saudi Air Force is undertaking a vast effort to not only modernize their fighter fleet but to invest heavily in quality training."

As part of the agreement, Saudi airmen will also be attending Air Force technical training courses at Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas; Eglin AFB, Fla., Seymour Johnson AFB, N.C. and Pensacola Naval Air Station, Fla. Saudi airmen will train alongside their U.S. Air Force counterparts, enriching training for both countries and enhancing an already strong relationship
between the two countries. The Air Force will also coordinate English language training for the students at Lackland AFB, Texas.

"Air Education and Training Command offers high-quality, advanced training to our international partners in a number of skill sets," said Brig. Gen. Tim Zadaliss, AETC director of operations. "This agreement allows the U.S. Air Force the opportunity to assist the Royal Saudi Air Force in not only modernizing their equipment, but ensuring they will have a well trained force to maintain and operate it."

In 2012, the service expects to train more than 300 Saudi airmen under the agreement.

The U.S. Air Force has been training members of the Royal Saudi Air Force on U.S. soil for more than 25 years, officials said. Since 2007, more than 1,000 Royal Saudi Air Force students have attended U.S. Air Force training programs, including pilot, navigator, logistics, maintenance and explosive ordnance disposal training, as well as professional military education courses.

The program, which includes the largest foreign military sales contract in U.S. history, is being led by Lt. Gen. Thomas Owen, Aeronautical Systems commander and will involve program management personnel at Robins AFB, Ga., Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, and Langley AFB, Va., as well as many other Air Force and Navy organizations.

Susan Griggs, 81st Training Wing Public Affairs, contributed to this report.
Previous Story
Next Story