Aircraft

The Royal Saudi Air Force has resumed flight operations with its fleet of about 80 Boeing F-15C/Ds, after removing a grounding order imposed after the November 2007 crash of a US Air National Guard aircraft. Forward-fuselage longeron inspections conducted by Alsalam Aircraft have been completed and "there were no defects with the fleet", the company says.

Alsalam, meanwhile, is conducting flight testing on the last two C/D-model aircraft to have undergone programmed depot maintenance at its Riyadh facility, and work has begun on the first eight RSAF F-15S strike aircraft to enter maintenance and upgrade at the site under a separate contract.

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