REPORT : Royal Saudi Air Force Boeing F-15SA Deliveries through RAF Lakenheath

In Mid-December 2016, Saudi Arabia received the first batch of four Boeing F-15SA fighter jets, These aircraft completed a four-day ferry flight from United States through United Kingdom to arrive at the King Khalid Air Base in Saudi Arabia. A U.S. Air Force Douglas KC-10A Extender aerial refuelling aircraft supported the ferry flight including the Atlantic crossing.

Saudi Arabia has ordered 84 F-15SA fighters along with kits to upgrade existing Royal Saudi Air Force (RSAF) fleet of 70 F-15S multi-role fighters to the SA configuration in 2010. The first four jets delivered through RAF Lakenheath on 10 December 2016 included two new aircraft and two jets re-manufactured to the SA configuration (93-0857 & 93-0899).

The Boeing F-15SA is equipped with 11 wing weapon stations, two more than the F-15S, extending its already impressive 13 tonne weapon payload capability.

Upgraded avionics include a digital glass cockpit, fly-by-wire controls, a BAE Systems Digital Electronic Warfare System (DEWS), Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing Systems (JHMCS), a Raytheon APG-63(V)3 Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar, Link-16 Multifunctional Information Distribution System and AN/AAS-42 Infrared Search and Track (IRST) Systems.

Flight testing of the first F-15SA began in 2013 and had a protracted development period. An unspecified issue with the digital fly-by-wire system delayed the delivery by almost one year.

12-1032 on 29th March 2017

The F-15SA is an incredibly capable machine, featuring some key changes from its progenitor, the F-15E Strike Eagle. These include a full fly-by-wire flight control system, APG-63V3 Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar, digital electronic warfare and radar warning suite, missile launch detection system, updated flat-panel display cockpits with helmet mounted displays in both cockpits and an infrared search and track system, known as “Tiger Eyes,” built into the left intake targeting pod pylon. The F-15SA also features F-110- GE-129 engines, capable of putting out almost 30,000 pounds of thrust each.

When it comes to weapons, the F-15SA can carry almost anything in the inventory. In the incredible image above showing an “extreme multi-role loadout” it packs: 2x AIM-120AMRAAMs, 2x AIM-9X Sidewinders, 2x AGM-84 SLAM-ERs, 2x AGM-88 HARMs, 6x GBU-54/B Laser JDAMs, and 8x GBU-39/B Small Diameter Bombs.

Also, the F-15SA still packs the F-15E’s 20mm Vulcan cannon with 540 rounds available. Basically, with this jet you get a tactical fighter force “in a box.” The loadout shown above includes weapons for long-range stand-off deep-strike, suppression of enemy air defences (SEAD), counter-air, direct precision attack and standoff precision attack all on the jet at the same time. Even after all that, the F-15SA’s centre-line station remains unused, which can accommodate up to a 2,000lb JDAM, an external fuel tank or even a synthetic aperture radar surveillance pod.

First flown in 1986, the F-15 was designed as a twin-seat fighter-bomber with the co-pilot to operate the ground attack weapons delivery system. It can fly at a max speed of 2.5 Mach and can operate at a Max altitude of 70,000 feet (21,336 m). Conformal fuel tanks attached to air intakes, below the wing roots, extend the combat range to 1000 nautical miles (1852 km) including 20 min loiter.

Since 10 December 2016, there has been a steady flow of Saudi Air Force Boeing F-15SA’s staging through RAF Lakenheath on their delivery flight to Saudi Arabia as can be seen by the table below.

Date Serial Type C/N Callsign
23 September 2019 12-1004 Boeing F-15SA Eagle SA-04 RETRO 61
29 March 2017 12-1005 Boeing F-15SA Eagle SA-05 RETRO 61
10 December 2016 12-1006 Boeing F-15SA Eagle SA-06 RETRO 64
14 August 2017 12-1007 Boeing F-15SA Eagle SA-07 RETRO 61
29 March 2017 12-1008 Boeing F-15SA Eagle SA-08 RETRO 62
10 December 2016 12-1010 Boeing F-15SA Eagle SA-10 RETRO 63
14 August 2017 12-1011 Boeing F-15SA Eagle SA-11 RETRO 62
27 September 2017 12-1012 Boeing F-15SA Eagle SA-12 RETRO 61
10 December 2018 12-1013 Boeing F-15SA Eagle SA-13 RETRO 61
10 December 2018 12-1014 Boeing F-15SA Eagle SA-14 RETRO 62
10 December 2018 12-1015 Boeing F-15SA Eagle SA-15 RETRO 63
14 August 2017 12-1016 Boeing F-15SA Eagle SA-16 RETRO 63
27 September 2017 12-1017 Boeing F-15SA Eagle SA-17 RETRO 66
23 July 2018 12-1018 Boeing F-15SA Eagle SA-18 RETRO 61
10 December 2018 12-1019 Boeing F-15SA Eagle SA-15 RETRO 64
23 March 2018 12-1020 Boeing F-15SA Eagle SA-20 RETRO 61
14 May 2018 12-1021 Boeing F-15SA Eagle SA-21 HURON 61
23 March 2018 12-1022 Boeing F-15SA Eagle SA-22 RETRO 62
23 March 2018 12-1023 Boeing F-15SA Eagle SA-23 RETRO 63
23 July 2018 12-1024 Boeing F-15SA Eagle SA-24 RETRO 62
23 July 2018 12-1025 Boeing F-15SA Eagle SA-25 RETRO 63
23 July 2018 12-1026 Boeing F-15SA Eagle SA-26 RETRO 64
27 September 2017 12-1027 Boeing F-15SA Eagle SA-27 RETRO 62
27 September 2017 12-1028 Boeing F-15SA Eagle SA-28 RETRO 65
23 September 2019 12-1029 Boeing F-15SA Eagle SA-29 RETRO 62
27 September 2017 12-1030 Boeing F-15SA Eagle SA-30 RETRO 64
14 August 2017 12-1031 Boeing F-15SA Eagle SA-31 RETRO 64
29 March 2017 12-1032 Boeing F-15SA Eagle SA-32 RETRO 63
11 August 2020 12-1033 Boeing F-15SA Eagle SA-33 RETRO 71
11 August 2020 12-1034 Boeing F-15SA Eagle SA-34 RETRO 72
11 August 2020 12-1035 Boeing F-15SA Eagle SA-35 RETRO 73
27 September 2017 12-1036 Boeing F-15SA Eagle SA-36 RETRO 63
14 August 2017 12-1037 Boeing F-15SA Eagle SA-37 RETRO 65
14 August 2017 12-1038 Boeing F-15SA Eagle SA-38 RETRO 66
29 March 2017 12-1039 Boeing F-15SA Eagle SA-39 RETRO 64
13 February 2017 12-1041 Boeing F-15SA Eagle SA-41 RETRO 31
23 September 2019 12-1042 Boeing F-15SA Eagle SA-42 RETRO 63
13 February 2017 12-1043 Boeing F-15SA Eagle SA-43 RETRO 32
02 December 2019 12-1044 Boeing F-15SA Eagle SA-44 RETRO 61
13 February 2017 12-1045 Boeing F-15SA Eagle SA-45 RETRO 33
26 March 2019 12-1046 Boeing F-15SA Eagle SA-46 RETRO 61
29 March 2017 12-1047 Boeing F-15SA Eagle SA-47 RETRO 65
26 March 2019 12-1049 Boeing F-15SA Eagle SA-49 RETRO 62
29 July 2019 12-1050 Boeing F-15SA Eagle SA-50 RETRO 66
29 July 2019 12-1051 Boeing F-15SA Eagle SA-51 RETRO 65
29 July 2019 12-1052 Boeing F-15SA Eagle SA-52 RETRO 64
23 March 2018 12-1054 Boeing F-15SA Eagle SA-54 RETRO 64
14 May 2018 12-1060 Boeing F-15SA Eagle SA-60 HURON 62
28 September 2018 12-1061 Boeing F-15SA Eagle SA-61 RETRO 61
02 December 2019 12-1062 Boeing F-15SA Eagle SA-62 RETRO 62
14 May 2018 12-1063 Boeing F-15SA Eagle SA-63 HURON 63
14 May 2018 12-1064 Boeing F-15SA Eagle SA-64 HURON 64
28 September 2018 12-1067 Boeing F-15SA Eagle SA-67 RETRO 62
23 July 2018 12-1068 Boeing F-15SA Eagle SA-68 RETRO 65
28 September 2018 12-1069 Boeing F-15SA Eagle SA-69 RETRO 63
28 September 2018 12-1070 Boeing F-15SA Eagle SA-70 RETRO 64
26 March 2019 12-1074 Boeing F-15SA Eagle SA-74 RETRO 63
26 March 2019 12-1075 Boeing F-15SA Eagle SA-75 RETRO 64
29 July 2019 12-1076 Boeing F-15SA Eagle SA-76 RETRO 63
29 July 2019 12-1077 Boeing F-15SA Eagle SA-77 RETRO 62
29 July 2019 12-1078 Boeing F-15SA Eagle SA-78 RETRO 61
23 September 2019 12-1079 Boeing F-15SA Eagle SA-79 RETRO 64
02 December 2019 12-1080 Boeing F-15SA Eagle SA-80 RETRO 63
02 December 2019 12-1081 Boeing F-15SA Eagle SA-81 RETRO 64
02 December 2019 12-1082 Boeing F-15SA Eagle SA-82 RETRO 65
11 August 2020 12-1084 Boeing F-15SA Eagle SA-84 RETRO 74
10 December 2016 93-0857 Boeing F-15SA Eagle 1257 RETRO 65
10 December 2016 93-0899 Boeing F-15SA Eagle 1316 RETRO 66

Staging through RAF Lakenheath has given many an enthusiast a chance to see this advanced F-15SA’s albeit devoid of armaments, the fuselage weapon stations are clearly in view with the white travel pods as is the blue and grey livery. The only disappointment is that they have U.S.A.F. markings on them, not Saudi Arabian. The delivery flights usually arrive early evening into RAF Lakenheath having departed from the Boring plant at Palmdale

These deliveries usually stay two or three days at RAF Lakenheath before continuing with their onward journey to King Khalid Air Base with the help of United States Air Force Douglas KC-10A or Boeing KC-135 that stays at RAF Mildenhall.

The following have yet to be delivered.

12-1001 Boeing F-15SA Eagle SA-01
12-1002 Boeing F-15SA Eagle SA-02
12-1003 Boeing F-15SA Eagle SA-03
12-1009 Boeing F-15SA Eagle SA-09
12-1048 Boeing F-15SA Eagle SA-48
12-1083 Boeing F-15SA Eagle SA-83

Published in Issue 25 of Spotters Magazine

All issues can be located at Spotters Magazine Issues

Screengrabs of the actual magazine report.