Saudi Hawks
| Saudi Hawks | |
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| Country: |
 Saudi Arabia
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| Currently used aircraft type: | BAE Hawk |
| Sponsor: | Royal Saudi Air Force |
| Base airfield: | King Faisal Air Base (Tabuk) |
| Founding: | June 6, 1998 |
| Colours: | Green white |
The Saudi Hawks ( Arabic الصقور السعودية, DMG aṣ-Ṣuqūr as-saʿūdīya 'the Saudi hawks') are a BAE Hawk- equipped aerobatic team of the Royal Saudi Air Force .
The team was launched on June 6, 1998 at King Abdulaziz Air Base ( Dhahran ), where No. 88 Squadron , was officially founded by General Abdulaziz Henaidy, Chief of Staff of the Royal Saudi Air Force, and Prince Sultan Bin Abdulaziz (Minister of Defense and Aviation). The aerobatic team is officially named Saudi Hawks Aerobatic Team . The team flies six BAE Hawk Mk.65 and 65A jet trainers. It is the official demonstration team of the Royal Saudi Air Force (RSAF). The Hawks debuted in Riyadh , the capital of the Saudi Kingdom, in January 1999 as part of Saudi Arabia's 100th birthday. Six BAE Hawk Mk.65A and three Mk.65s (all modified by BAE Systems) are assigned to the team. They have a striking green and white color scheme that reflects the national colors of the country. In February 2000 the first demonstration took place outside her home country in Bahrain . Soon after, the Royal Saudi Air Force team and various Hawk squadrons moved to King Faisal Air Base ( Tabuk ) in northwestern Saudi Arabia.
The team has a lot in common with the Red Arrows of the Royal Air Force due to the aircraft. But also because ex-Red Arrows staff participate in the training of the team.
Starting in June 2002, the team toured the Saudi Kingdom for four months, showing their demonstrations at civil and military shows. The team had its first demonstration in Europe at AirPower11 in Zeltweg .
In July 2011 the team was in the UK for the first time . The screening scheduled for the first day of the Royal International Air Tattoo was canceled due to weather conditions, but they flew a screening the following day.
In June 2014, the Saudi Hawks performed their demonstration at the Kavala AirSea Show in Kavala ( Greece ).
In September 2017, the Saudi Hawks took part in the NATO Days in Ostrava , Czech Republic . Due to the weather, however, they could not carry out their demonstration during the actual event.
