LIGHTNINGS IN SAUDI SERVICE

 

 

 

 

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The Lightning was small in export terms, only Saudi Arabia and Kuwait placed orders for an export version in December 1965.

The single seat fighters were  modified variants of the F.3s designated as F.53s,  The variant had  much needed additional fuel

tank capacity with the addition of a long ventral tank. The UK  F6 variant was later updated, based on the modifications

embodied in the F53.

 

The first demonstration of the Lightning to the Saudis was a sub-sonic display in Ridyadh, piloted by English Electric chief test

pilot Jimmy Dell. 

The display was requested by the defence minister Prince Sultan. This demonstration greatly interested the Saudis and the Royal

Saudi Air Force's chief test pilot, Lieutenant Hamdam, whom later visited the UK, taking an F.2 to Mach 2.1 during his first solo

flight.

 

The F.53s were given multi-role capability with the facility to fit a pylon

under each wing, capable of carrying unguided  rocket pods or a bomb

load of up to 450-kilograms (1,000 pounds), even one or two Matra

rocket launchers with 18 SNEB unguided rockets.  

 

 

Top wing points allowed for the addition of either a ferry fuel tank, another

rocket pod or a further 450-kilogram bomb.  F.53 could also house 30-millimetre

Aden cannons  in the forward ventral tank, a development designed for the F.53

and later retrofitted to the F.6s. A variety a of weapon packs were available too,

including the Red Top, Firestreak, Microcell Rocket or reconnaissance packs.

With such a variety of weaponry, many configurations were fitted.

 

 

 

 

The Saudis were keen to buy their Lightning’s, friction between Egypt and Saudi Arabia over the civil war in Yemen, lead to

the Saudis needing to counter Egyptian MiG fighter incursions. Under the "Magic Carpet" deal, in July 1966 the Saudis 

were provided with four F.2s as "F.52s", with a fifth passed on as an attrition replacement a year later, and two T.4s as "T.54s". 

 

Ironically, the Egyptian incursions stopped before these interim Saudi Lightning’s went live, but they were useful for bringing the

Saudi Air Force up to speed on the type. The one F.3A that wasn't upgraded to an F.6 became the initial F.53 prototype,

performing its initial flight on 19 October 1966. Deliveries for F.53 began in July 1968. Saudi Lightning’s were flown in their natural

metal finish. They performed ground attack missions during Yemeni incursions in late 1969 and early 1970 and proved highly

effective in the attack role, though one Lightning was shot down (This was the only time any Lightning fired shots in anger) the pilot

ejected safely and was rescued. Saudi Lightnings continued to be employed in both the air and ground attack role until  late1981

when they were replaced in the ground-attack role by the Northrop F-5 , the Lightning ceased the reconnaissance role not long after, reducing it to a single-role interceptor.

 

The Lightning  retired from Saudi service in 1986. Of the 47 delivered, not counting two that had been lost before delivery, 18 had

been lost in Saudi service, 22 were returned to the UK to re-sell to the Danish Air Force, those which stayed in Saudi were retained

as gate guards and for static display.