Gulf States' Airpower Capabilities Are Still Evolving

Standing at the crossroads of cultures and a source of great natural wealth, the Gulf region has become a geopolitical hotbed with rising military presence from both global powers and, more recently, the smaller nations that fringe the waters of the Gulf. The last decade has seen a dramatic rise in both the numbers and capabilities of combat aircraft operated by Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) members. 

Alongside that has been a drive by some of the members—notably Saudi Arabia and the UAE—to develop their military industrial bases as part of a wider effort to shift their economies away from an over-reliance on natural resources.

In terms of requirements and new orders, the region has entered a period of relative calm following the major, Gulf-wide procurement drive to enlarge and enhance regional air arms of the late 2010s/early 2020s.

The fruits of those procurement efforts are now being harvested as large numbers of advanced warplanes are in the process of delivery. Now the nations are focusing on future capability developments, such as sixth-generation fighters and advanced network operations.

Bahrain

Nestled between Qatar and Saudi Arabia, the small island kingdom of Bahrain has a compact air arm with a primarily defensive force. 

In 2017, the Royal Bahraini Air Force ordered 16 Lockheed Martin F-16C Block 70s with APG-83 AESA radar to supersede its Block 40 aircraft, while upgrading a number of them to the F-16V standard, equivalent to the Block 70. 

BAE Systems Hawks provide training, while the existing Bell AH-1 Cobra gunship fleet has been bolstered by a batch of 12 AH-1Z Venoms. These also provide a useful maritime defensive capability.

Iran

Iran’s inability to procure modern aircraft types leaves it reliant on pre-Islamic revolution U.S. types such as the F-4 Phantom, F-14 Tomcat, and Northrop F-5, as well as a few post-revolution imports from Russia (MiG-29 and Su-24) and Mirage F1s that escaped from Iraq at the end of the Gulf War in 1991.

These aircraft have been kept airworthy and combat-capable through a combination of reverse engineering, espionage, and ingenuity by the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force (IRIAF) and local industry. For instance, the dwindling Tomcat fleet—now down to fewer than 40 aircraft—has been armed with Russian air-to-air missiles and even the Hawk surface-to-air missile. Attempts to acquire Su-35s from Russia have been unsuccessful.

In addition to the aircraft operated by the IRIAF, a few Su-22s are operated by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard. A handful of Bell AH-1J SeaCobras remain in use with the army for gunship duties, while the IRIAF operates a few Boeing 707 and 747 tankers to support the fighter fleet.

Iraq

Iraq’s rebuilt air force continues to evolve, but the principal combat force remains based on 36 F-16C/D Block 52s (also known as F-16IQs) delivered in two batches between 2014 and 2017. 

Its other main type is the Sukhoi Su-25, of which around 20 remain active for attack duties. They are augmented by armed Aero L-159As and Cessna AC-208 Caravans. 

The combat helicopter fleet centers on the Mil Mi-35 and Mi-8/171, with Bell 407s and Airbus H135s providing a light armed capability.

Kuwait

Kuwait is in the process of significantly increasing its combat capability with the orders for 28 each of the Eurofighter Typhoon and Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet. They are superseding a force of around 35 F/A-18C/Ds that have been in service since the early 1990s. 

Attack helicopter capability is provided by 16 Boeing AH-64D/E Apaches, and Lockheed Martin KC-130Js provide a tanker capability.

Oman

In the early 2000s, Oman ordered 12 Lockheed Martin F-16C/D Advanced Block 50s to bolster its air defense forces, followed by another 12 in 2010 to replace its squadron of Sepecat Jaguars. A majority of them remain in service. The Royal Air Force of Oman supplemented the fleet with 12 Eurofighter Typhoons in 2017. 

Qatar

The most meteoric rise in capability of any Gulf air arm in recent years has been that of the Qatar Emiri Air Force (QEAF), which has gone from operating a small force of Dassault Mirage 2000s to a large air arm with no fewer than three major combat types. 

Procured over a short time period, the QEAF ordered 36 each of the Dassault Rafale, Eurofighter Typhoon, and Boeing F-15QA Eagle, and added another 36 F-15QAs shortly after. These types are now all in delivery. Qatar has also invested heavily in new trainers and has a potent attack helicopter force, comprising 24 AH-64E Apaches.

Saudi Arabia

As the largest air arm in the region, the Royal Saudi Air Force operates a potent fleet of combat aircraft. Numerically, the most important is the Boeing F-15 Eagle, with more than 200 in service. They include the original air defense-assigned F-15C/Ds and multirole F-15Ss, but the most capable variant is the F-15SA Advanced Eagle, procured as both new-build airframes and by conversion of the F-15S. 

The RSAF’s other main combat types are the Panavia Tornado and the Eurofighter Typhoon. While the former is nearing the end of its combat career, around 80 are still in use. Typhoons are mainly used for air defense duties, and 72 have been delivered since 2009. Another 48 are being considered.

Airbus A330MRTT and Lockheed Martin KC-130 tankers support the combat fleet, while Boeing E-3A Sentries and Saab 2000s provide airborne early warning coverage. Boeing RE-3As are used on signals intelligence-gathering missions. Meanwhile, attack helicopter capability centers on the AH-64, operated by both the Royal Saudi Land Forces and the Saudi Arabian National Guard.

United Arab Emirates

Although its attempt to become the GCC’s first F-35 operator has stalled, the UAE Air Force and Air Defence remains one of the world’s most technologically advanced and capable air forces. The nation also pursues a non-aligned procurement policy, while striving to increase and improve its engineering and technology base.

Today’s combat capability rests on the Dassault Mirage 2000-9 and the Lockheed Martin F-16E/F Block 60 Desert Falcon. The latter was among the world’s first front-line fighters to feature an AESA radar and remains a potent weapon. While the deal to buy 50 F-35As remains on hold, the UAE has ordered 80 Dassault Rafales to recapitalize its fighter fleet.

Like Saudi Arabia, the UAE has also invested in combat support equipment, including five Airbus A330 MRTT tanker/transports, five Saab GlobalEye airborne early warning and control aircraft, and a pair of Bombardier Global 6000s outfitted for signals intelligence. The AH-64 Apache is the primary attack helicopter, while armed Iomax Archangels and Cessna Caravans provide potent border patrol and counter-insurgency support capabilities.