Back القوات البحرية الملكية السعودية Arabic القوات البحريه السعوديه ARZ Saúdské královské námořnictvo Czech Royal Saudi Navy German Βασιλικό Σαουδαραβικό Ναυτικό Greek Real Armada Saudita Spanish نیروی دریایی سلطنتی سعودی FA Marine royale saoudienne French חיל הים המלכותי הסעודי HE Saudijska ratna mornarica Croatian
| Royal Saudi Naval Force | |
|---|---|
| البحرية السعودية | |
 Emblem of the Royal Saudi Navy | |
| Founded | 1789 (historical)[1] 1960 (official)[2] |
| Country |  Saudi Arabia |
| Type | Navy |
| Role | Naval warfare |
| Size | 13,500 approx. (inc. 3,000 marines) [3][4] |
| Part of | Royal Armed Forces |
| Parent agency | Ministry Of Defense[6] |
| Colors | Blue white |
| Equipment | 7 frigates (4 u/c) 9 corvettes 39 patrol vessels 3 minehunters 2 support ships 2 royal yachts |
| Engagements | List of wars involving RSNF |
| Decorations | .png){kind=small} Naval Forces Medal - 1st Class .png){kind=small} Naval Forces Medal - 2nd Class .png){kind=small} Naval Forces Medal - 3rd Class |
| Website | rsnf.gov.sa |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander | V. Admiral Mohammed Al-Gharibi[7] |
| Notable commanders | Abu al-A'war Rahmah ibn Jabir al-Jalhami |
| Insignia | |
| Seal |  |
| Ensign |  |
| Jack |  |
| Flag |  |
| Pennant |  |
| Aircraft flown | |
| Helicopter | AS332 Super Puma |
| Utility helicopter | AS565 SA Dauphin Sikorsky MH-60R |
The Royal Saudi Naval Forces (RSNF),[8][note 1] or Royal Saudi Navy,[note 2] is the maritime arm of the Saudi Arabian Armed Forces and one of the five service branches of the Ministry of Defense of Saudi Arabia. Its primary role is monitoring and defending Saudi territorial waters, ensuring regional freedom of navigation, and protecting commercial sea routes through multinational naval coalitions.[9][8]
The Royal Saudi Navy is organized into two fleets: The Eastern Fleet, which operates in the Persian Gulf from the King Abdulaziz Naval Base at Jubail, and the Western Fleet, which operates in the Red Sea from the King Faisal Naval Base at Jeddah. Each fleet has full military capability, including warships, support ships, administrative and technical support, naval aviation, marines and special security units.[10]
Since the turn of the 21st century, the RSNF has undergone extensive efforts to expand and modernize its fleet, enhance its operational capabilities, and professionalize its personnel.[11][12]
- ^ George Snavely Rentz (1948). The Beginnings of Unitarian Empire in Arabia. University of California, Berkeley. p. 213.
- ^ "Royal Saudi Naval Force". Archived from the original on 28 June 2020. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
- ^ IISS (2021). The Military Balance 2021. Routledge. p. 364. ISBN 978-1-032-01227-8.
- ^ CIA (2021). The CIA World Factbook 2021-2022. Skyhorse Publishing. p. 842. ISBN 978-1-5107-6381-4.
- ^ Gray, Matthew (2014). Global Security Watch—Saudi Arabia. ABC-CLIO. p. 41. ISBN 9780313387005. Archived from the original on 3 November 2018. Retrieved 11 September 2017.
- ^ "Bahrain – McGill School of Computer Science". Archived from the original on 9 October 2016. Retrieved 21 September 2016.
- ^ https://www.spa.gov.sa/en/N2162669
- ^ a b "Royal Saudi Naval Forces". Gov.Sa.
- ^ Matamis, Joaquin (26 October 2023). "Saudi Navy Assumes New Leadership Role in US-led Maritime Coalitions • Stimson Center". Stimson Center. Retrieved 2 December 2024.
- ^ "sdarabia". sdarabia.com. 3 August 2017. Archived from the original on 3 August 2017. Retrieved 24 December 2019.
- ^ Hedges, Matthew (15 April 2018). "Saudi Arabia's modernization considerations for its West Coast fleet". Gulf State Analytics. Retrieved 2 December 2024.
- ^ Helou, Agnes (9 September 2022). "Saudi naval modernization pushes ahead, with eye always on Iran". Breaking Defense. Retrieved 2 December 2024.
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