World Defense Show, Riyadh 4-8 February 2024

[patrick dirksen]

Hi all,

This month the World Defense Show was organised for the second time in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. My collection of Saudi military aircraft wasn’t too big yet, and especially the types that don’t leave their country were missing. Apart from that I had never visited Saudi Arabia before, so the show seemed like a good reason to visit this country. And it turned out very well indeed. Here is a log of what was seen. As usual all info was actually read off unless between (brackets).

World Defense Show, Riyadh (4, 5, 6 and 8-2)

Static:
2403 A.330-203MRTT (24 sq) spec tail and mks Saudi Vision 2030
1804 E-3A 18 sq, FMS 82-0069
(219) F-15C (2 sq), FMS 79-0062, spec c/s Saudi Arabia National Day
(5514) F-15S (55 sq), FMS 93-0922, spec c/s Saudi Arabia National Day
5519 F-15SA 55 sq, FMS 12-1010
6602 H-215M 66 sq, c/n 3046, type as AS.532AL
2119 Hawk mk.165 21 sq
8801 Hawk mk.165 88 sq, Saudi Hawks
(7524) Tornado (75 sq), serial from crew, spec c/s Saudi Arabia National Day
(8022) Typhoon (80 sq), c/n CS0052, spec c/s Saudi Arabia National Day
801 MH-60R (2 Fleet), c/n 704884, FMS BuNo 169383
27497 CH-47F (3 Av Grp, 2 Btn), c/n M7497, FMS 18-27497
27390 UH-60M (3 Av Grp, 1 Btn), c/n 704931, FMS 16-27390
40025 AH-64E (1 Av Grp, 2 Btn), FMS 14-00025
61024 AH-6i (1 Av Brig, 2 Btn) Nat. Guard, FMS 14-61024
27405 UH-60M (1 Av Brig, 1 Btn) Nat. Guard, c/n 705041, FMS 17-27405
10135 AH-64E (1 Av Brig, 2 Btn), Nat. Guard, FMS 21-00135
PSS-59 H.145T2 (101 sq) c/n 20168
117/IV Rafale C (EC01.007)
ZM418/418 Atlas C.1 (24/30/70 sq) flown by 70 sq crew
ZZ410 Wildcat AH.1 (1 Rgt?), c/n 480
(2852)/52 KC-390 (1/1 GT / Embraer), PT-ZNG, c/n 39000003
23-318/318 JF-17 16 sq, c/n FC1C0318
95-6385/385 MFI-395 PAC Kamra
QA267 NH.90-NFH (8 sq), c/n 1493/QAN02
78-0684/DM A-10C (355 Wg, 354 FS)
(08-8606) C-130J (19 AW, 61 AS), no mks or serial, only datablock
16-5858/CA HC-130J (129 RQW, 130 RQS)
11-9355 E-11A (653 ELSW, 430 EECS)
91-0602/LN F-15E 48 FW, 494 FS
86-0352/AC F-16C 177 FW, 119 FS
10-20287 UH-60M C/2-82 Avn, c/n 703723
16-20884 UH-60M B/2-10 Avn, c/n 704787

Flightline:
5536 F-15SA 55 sq, FMS 12-1036
8002 Typhoon 80 sq
8023 Typhoon 80 sq
PSS-54 H.145T2 (101 sq) – SAR standby
HZ-MS54 AW.139 MODHS (33 sq), c/n (315)39 – SAR standby
17-244/244 JF-17 18 sq, c/n FC10247
17-247/247 JF-17 18 sq, c/n FC10244
03 J-10C Ba Yi, c/n J10C0703
05 J-10C Ba Yi, c/n J10C0705
06 J-10C Ba Yi, c/n J10C0706
07 J-10C Ba Yi, c/n J10C0707
09 J-10S Ba Yi, c/n J10S0415
10 J-10S Ba Yi, c/n J10S0416
11 J-10S Ba Yi, c/n J10S0417

Saudi Hawks: Hawk mk.65A, 88 sq: 8806, 8807, 8808, 8811, 8817, 8818, 8819, 8821
Türk Yildizlari: NF-5A/B, 134 Filo: (3025)/25/6, (3046)/46/5, (3052)/52/5, (3058)/58/3,
(3072)/72/2, (4001)/01/4, (4021)/21/1

Visit:
6603 H-215M 66 sq (4-2)
6607 H-215M 66 sq (4-2)
0075/F-RBAT A.400M ET00.061 (6-2)
15-0051 A.400M 221 Filo (8-2)
68-1609 C-130E 222 Filo (8-2)

Flying only:
125/GD Rafale C (EC01.007?) (5-2)
81-0988 A-10C yellow tailband (357 FS) (5-2)
87-0226/AC F-16C 119 FS (5-2)
87-0314/DC F-16C 121 FS (5 & 6-2)
87-0346/AC F-16C 119 FS (8-2)
169324/PD-324 P-8A VP-9 (5-2)

All units between brackets were either deducted from the serial or given by the crew. The two Hawk mk.165s were inside a separate tent and were revealed during a special ceremony. 2119 is the last one from the second order of 22 aircraft that have been assembled in Saudi Arabia (the first 22 have been assembled in the UK). As one aircraft crashed a few years ago (serial still unknown AFAIK), they now have 43 aircraft available. And 8801 is the first one for the Saudi Hawks. After this season the team will convert to the mk.165, so another 9 to 11 will be painted (and reserialled). Unfortunately I was not able to find the former serial of this 8801.

On February 4th the show was opened with lots of high officials both from Saudi Arabia and abroad present. We had been hoping for some nice visiting VIP aircraft for this occasion, but only a single Cougar arrived with some VIP while the second one probably acted as a decoy. Only demo flying this day was done by the Saudi Hawks. The next day the flying program started out well, but it became less every day. The P-8 only made a single pass, while the F-16s did two or three passes but were almost flying over Kuwait or so. The display of the A-10 was nice to see though. The Rafale also did a few flypasts and that was it. Its sistership on the static already left after the second day by the way. Both the French and almost all Americans were stationed “in the area”, hence their participation.

The support aircraft were a nice bonus. But knowing we had just missed three Chinese Y-20s before we arrived and we would again miss three as these were only arriving the day after we had left, was a bit sour to say the least. However all in all it was a great opportunity to see and photograph quite a few rare Saudi aircraft and helicopters. And the openness of the people helped in getting a lot of useful info on connumbers and units. The next edition of the WDS is planned for 2026 and I can recommend it!

Many thanks to 4Aviation for the organisation of the trip!

By the way, a log of the RSAF museum can be found here: https://www.scramble.nl/community/messa ... /81/174165
And a short log for the Riyadh IAP is here: https://www.scramble.nl/community/messa ... /82/174166