Saudi Arabia has placed an order for four Leonardo C-27J Spartan aircraft in a dedicated maritime patrol aircraft (MPA) configuration, to be operated by the Royal Saudi Naval Forces (RSNF). Leonardo announced the deal on 16 February 2026, with deliveries expected to begin in 2029.
The purchase is significant because it adds a fixed-wing maritime patrol capability to the RSNF mission set, aimed at improving coverage of sea-surface surveillance and undersea threat monitoring, while retaining the Spartan’s utility for search and rescue (SAR), transport, and airdrop missions.
Leonardo and reporting outlets emphasized that this contract is also a first for the C-27J MPA concept in one key respect: it is described as the first procurement of the C-27J MPA with maritime weapon-system integration capability, supporting missions such as anti-ship and anti-submarine warfare.
The order builds on prior C-27J activity in the Kingdom, including a separate Saudi acquisition of two aircraft for multi-mission roles, referenced by Leonardo and industry reporting as part of an expanding C-27J footprint in-country.
Images: Naval News