Royal Saudi Border Guard (Coast Guard) Aviation

Border Guard (Coast Guard) Aviation

In the Saudi Arabian defense structure, the Border Guard (Coast Guard) is a paramilitary force of ε15,000 personnel reporting to the Ministry of Interior. While the Coast Guard operates a massive fleet of surface vessels and hovercraft, its manned aviation requirements are historically integrated with the General Security Aviation Command or supported by specialized Royal Saudi Navy (RSNF) maritime assets.

ROYAL SAUDI ARABIAN COAST GUARD • Directorate General of Border Guard Paramilitary Personnel: ε15,000 (Border Guard); ε24,500+ (Total Paramilitary). Status: Subordinate to the Ministry of Interior. Mission: Maritime security, search and rescue (SAR), and border interdiction in the Red Sea and Persian Gulf.

Forces by Role & Equipment by Type
Maritime Security & Internal Support Command

• HELICOPTER 10 active airframes (Interior Support).

Transport & Search and Rescue (SAR):

• 10 Boeing Vertol 107 (Operated via the General Civil Defence Administration for security and SAR support).
• (Note: Primary ship-borne maritime patrol and ASW/ASuW support is provided by the RSNF's 10 MH-60R Seahawk and 20 Super Puma helicopters).

• AMPHIBIOUS (AIR-CUSHIONED) 8 active.

Coastal Patrol & Interdiction:

• 8 Griffon 8000 (Utility Landing Craft Air Cushioned - UCAC).
• (Note: These high-speed platforms are essential for shallow-water border monitoring and rapid response).

• COASTAL DEFENCE & MARITIME PATROL (RSNF INTEGRATED)

• Air-to-Surface Missiles (RSNF Support): AM39 Exocet; AS-15TT.
• Surface Combatants (Coast Guard Organic): 108+ vessels total.
  • 13+ Patrol Craft (PCC);
  • 40 Offshore Patrol Boats (OPB);
  • 85 Fast Intercept Craft (PBF) including 79 Plascoa FIC 1650.

Note: By 2026, the Royal Saudi Arabian Coast Guard remains a critical node in the Kingdom's Vision 2030 security architecture. While the Border Guard maintains its own high-speed surface interceptors and hovercraft, aerial maritime domain awareness is a joint effort. The force benefits from the Kingdom's localization of defense industries; specifically, Saudi Arabian Military Industries (SAMI) now provides local maintenance and engine repair for the helicopter types used in security and utility roles. Strategic maritime monitoring is further bolstered by RSAF Saab 2000 Erieye and E-3A Sentry AEW&C aircraft, which coordinate with Coast Guard surface assets to secure vital sea lines of communication.