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King Salman Receives Message from Hollande | ASHARQ AL-AWSAT English Archive 2005 -2017
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The Eagle Fighters will join a growing Saudi Royal Air Force fleet after a deal was penned with the United States in 2012 for the purchase of 84 units. (SPA)


Riyadh – Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud has received on Tuesday a message from French President Francois Hollande.

The message was delivered by French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault, during his meeting with King Salman at Al-Yamamah Palace.

Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Second Deputy Premier and Minister of Defense, extended his thanks and gratitude to King Salman for lending his patronage to King Faisal Air Academy’s (KFAA) for its celebration of its 50th anniversary next Wednesday.

Prince Mohammed said the Kingdom will continue boosting its military and defense capabilities through upgrading the Armed Forces, notably the Royal Saudi Air Force (RSAF), by making it acquire the most modern planes in the world. He also said qualifying and training pilots and co-pilots, as well as enhancing the Armed Forces’ capabilities to make them combat ready, will enable the Armed Force to perform more efficiently.

The event will witness the official joining of the recently received F-15-SA fighter jets to the RSAF fleet following a deal signed with the U.S. in 2012, which stipulated the purchase of 84 F-15-SA fighter jets.

For his part, Acting Commander of Air Forces, Air Vice Marshal Mohammed Al-Otaib expressed pride for the patronage of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques.

“Air forces witnessed during the past decade a development on all levels from equipment to planes and pilots. These are the outcomes of the wise leadership support to military segments,” he added.