Should Saudi Arabia buy an aircraft carrier?

[Philip the Arab]

Saudis are not getting F-35 until 3 decades so they should go for ramped version.

Or they could try to buy a STOVL modified J-31 from China that works with U.S. carriers or a Chinese built small carrier.

 

[haman10]

They cant build one without serious help, trust me

oh really? cause we were all embracing for a saudi flying saucer in the next couple of months.

You should be on TV my friend.

 

[BHarwana]

Explain,how?

Please let me have some fun.

 

[Philip the Arab]

Aircraft carriers are for blue-water navies you dumbass. if saudia wants ACs, they should go ahead and buy 20 of them. trust me, we will cheer for them since they're useless for them.

You simply are dumb Fook if you use ACs against your neighboring country. but go ahead, buy more and more and make us all happy.

We're happy, the Americans are happy and you're happy. so why not?

Saudi Arabia cant protect their interests in middle east without a AC. And they aren't useless, they could be used to help an ally in need of assistance with resupplying every so often.

 

[haman10]

Explain,how?

What do you mean how bro? They have mastered quantum physics.

They go from 150 kgs of mass to Zero in a fraction of a second.

KABOOM.

 

[Philip the Arab]

Air ship carrier in the Arabian gulf would be sitting duck. Saudis don't need air ship carrier for Iran and air ship carrier is also not needed to safe guard shipping lanes. F-15 have enough combat radius for Iran. Air ship carrier of Saudis will be useful against Israel.

Lol they will never attack Israel with AD by Israel and their nukes.

 

[BHarwana]

Or they could try to buy a STOVL modified J-31 from China that works with U.S. carriers or a Chinese built small carrier.

Saudis don't need air ship carrier for Iran. Iran is with in range of F-15 combat radius. USA will never sell Saudis an air ship carrier. The day Saudis will place order of air ship carrier to China USA will impose sanctions on Saudis.

 

[LeGenD]

Don't you think with support from the U.S. they could do it? Training and expertise would take time though I agree.

Perhaps, but it is important to have a capable navy first.

 

[BHarwana]

Lol they will never attack Israel with AD by Israel and their nukes.

Saudis them self have nukes. Pakistani nukes are always available to defend Saudis.

 

[Philip the Arab]

Perhaps, but it is important to have a capable navy first.

I agree but why did Egypt buy their aircraft carriers? They have nothing to protect. And yes those are classified as aircraft carriers.

 

[haman10]

Saudi Arabia cant protect their interests in middle east without a AC. And they aren't useless, they could be used to help an ally in need of assistance with resupplying every so often.

Saudi arabia doesn't need ACs to project power in ME because they've got bearded self-exploding baboons as a WMD.

 

[Philip the Arab]

Saudi arabia doesn't need ACs to project power in ME because they've got bearded self-exploding baboons as a WMD.

You are very stupid my friend. Your jokes aren't even offending, learn new jokes instead of reusing 40 year old jokes you bum.

 

[Damir877]

I agree it would be difficult to support them but with enough

That wouldn't be its only purpose but it would be an important one. Saudi Arabia can defend themselves from Iranians ballistic missiles especially because they in no way have enough TELS to launch them all at the same time and THAAD and PAC-3 are adequate. They could just show of that they have an aircraft carrier and maybe help a country being attacked.[/QUOTE]

I would't be so sure they can defend from ballistic missiles considering what is going on in Yemen.As you said yourself AC will be only for showing off,as far as Iran is concerned is way to close for SA to even need one if it wants to attack.
What do you mean by "maybe help a country being attacked"?Which country,how are they gonna help?Sending carrier to scare the attackers?I don't get it.

 

[fitpOsitive]

Saudi Arabia is vying for regional power in the Middle East right now and to show their dominance should they buy an aircraft carrier even if it is a smaller one? The America-class amphibious assault ship is a helicopter carrier that doubles as an marine landing craft https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/America-class_amphibious_assault_ship. Currently 1 ship has been built and 11 are being planned for the future. The ship can carry at full fighter jet load either 20 F-35Bs or 20 Av-8 harrier jump jets, keep in mind both of the planes are STOVL and don't really need that much space to take off. An assortment of helicopters can be carried such as V-22,CH-53,UH-1Y,AH-1Z, and MH-60S helicopters the last of which Saudi Arabia operates to my knowledge. I think the only viable option for Saudi Arabia would be to buy either new built Harrier Jump Jets or try to get F-35B in the near future. If they could assemble a carrier strike group consisting of two of their Al Riyadh-class frigates which would be an effective anti-air escort, they could then use 2 Al Madinah-class frigates or buy a destroyer from the U.S. or another country such as the Arleigh-Burke-class destroyer or FREMM-class which could also be classed as a destroyer and which only one would be needed as the British only operate one destroyer in their carrier strike group. The last major thing they would need would be to buy a submarine or two from France to use in the group. I'm not sure if this would work but it would be very expensive if Saudi Arabia did do it maybe in the 10's of billions with each carrier costing 3.4 billion each. Some news sources are also saying the U.S. should do the same thing in regards to replacing the very big aircraft carrier with a much smaller but still capable one. If someone could please tell me if my opinion is correct or if they disagree with me I would appreciate it.

Career represents a particular mentality, that is really not a Saudi thing. An aircraft career is symbol of imperialism, the country's intention to "poke her nose", beyond requirement. So, I say, no need.

 

[Philip the Arab]

I would't be so sure they can defend from ballistic missiles considering what is going on in Yemen.As you said yourself AC will be only for showing off,as far as Iran is concerned is way to close for SA to even need one if it wants to attack.
What do you mean by "maybe help a country being attacked"?Which country,how are they gonna help?Sending carrier to scare the attackers?I don't get it.

I'm saying for example lets say a friendly country is being attacked. Maybe they could move the carrier in range of the attacking country and bomb them with their F-35s and defend from enemies by using the group with the carrier.