The Arab News, which bills itself as “the Middle East’s Leading English Language Daily,” had an intriguing story last week from reporter P.K. Abdul Ghafour. Filing from Jeddah, Ghafour wrote that Saudi Minister of Defense (and new Crown Prince) Sultan ibn Abdul-Aziz has a plan “to strengthen the Kingdom’s air force and for it to become No. 1 in the Middle East.” Hmmm. Israel is in the Middle East, and has an air force. Ditto with Egypt. Does USAF count? Anyway, it’s true that the RSAF has some pretty good iron—US-made F-15s, US-made E-3 AWACs, US-made air-combat missiles, etc. However, it would be pretty bold for Sultan to say, as he reportedly told RSAF officers in Tabuk, “Our air force fleet will become the strongest in the Middle East.” When, highness? And how? And why
China thinks it will be able to invade Taiwan by 2027 and has developed a technology edge in many key areas—but it is artificial intelligence that may be the decisive factor should conflict erupt, Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall said.