Armed forces

This file contains monthly the reports of the UK's Defence Attaché in Saudi Arabia C S Fitzpatrick from March to September 1968. The reports refer to:

• Development of the Royal Saudi Navy
• Dissension in the armed forces
• Graduation from military schools in Riyadh and Taif
• Report on a visit by Fitzpatrick to Hejaz
• ‘Magic Carpet’ air defence deal at Khamis Mushait; the delivery of a Thunderbird battery by the British Aircraft Corporation; and the delivery of Lightning and BAC 167 aircraft
• Despatch of a Hawk missile battery to Tabuk by Raytheon
• Delivery of French Panhard armoured cars
• Saudi-Pakistan military cooperation
• Saudi financing of arms for Jordan
• Upgrading of the assessment of Israel’s military strength
• Eviction of Yemeni Royalists by Saudi Arabia
• Saudi veto of the appointment of Horace Phillips as UK Ambassador
• Port, rail, road, TV, telecommunications, oil and airline development
• Jeddah floods
• Visit by Soviet Union warships to Somalia