UNIPATH STAFF
In late 2015, the Saudi Arabian National Guard (SANG) had no helicopters on the ground. But with a plan to build a rotary-wing force consisting of the latest Apaches and Black Hawks, the SANG is now well on its way to assembling a fleet of 156 aircraft.
With 36 helicopters as of February 2017, the SANG’s upgrades support Saudi Arabia’s 2030 modernization plan. The SANG began modernization efforts 44 years ago, with the U.S. Army playing a “train, advise, assist and modernize” role, said U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Frank Muth, SANG modernization program manager. At its inception, the guard was 30,000 strong. Now Muth oversees roughly 320,000 people, which includes 130,000 civilians and 130,000 military personnel.
The SANG has 12 AH-64Es and 24 UH-60Ms and is buying 12 AH-6is, Muth said. No other country in the world has AH-6is, he noted, adding that the helicopters were expected in May 2017.
“This is a test case, a proof of principle, that they are going to look at for six months,” Muth said. Forty-two aviators who provide training, assistance and modernization efforts for the SANG will develop a training program that covers the fleet.
“We are training everything across the board,” from maintainers to refuelers to firefighters, Muth said. At the same time, the program is helping the SANG set up facilities to accommodate the growing fleet.