Saudi Arabia has launched the Red Wave-8 military exercise at King Faisal Naval Base, home to the navy’s Western Fleet in Jeddah, the Saudi Defense Ministry said in a statement.
The joint naval drill involves the Royal Saudi Naval Forces, the Royal Saudi Land Forces, the Royal Saudi Air Forces, and units of the Saudi Border Guard. It also includes naval forces from Red Sea littoral states.
The Red Wave-8 exercise aims to enhance joint military cooperation and coordinate efforts to protect vital sea waterways. Furthermore, the naval drill focuses on unifying efforts to strengthen Red Sea security and protect strategic maritime straits.
It also aims to ensure the freedom of navigation and global supply lines, boosting energy security and supporting a stable global trade movement, the statement added.
Running from November 9-13, 2025, the Red Wave-8 exercise involves the application of advanced tactical concepts through lectures and field drills that simulate multiple scenarios, including surface and air warfare, electronic warfare, and countering speedboat attacks.
Moreover, the field drills include specialized training in maritime security such as countering terrorism, piracy, smuggling, and illegal immigration, as well as protecting international shipping lines, according to Asharq Al-Awsat.
On this occasion, the Commander of the Western Fleet, Rear Admiral Mansour bin Saud Al-Juaid, noted that the Red Wave-8 naval exercise builds on a series of field drills conducted by the Royal Saudi Naval Forces as part of its ongoing training program.
ويهدف التمرين إلى توحيد الجهود لتعزيز أمن البحر الأحمر وحماية المضائق البحرية الإستراتيجية، وضمان حرية الملاحة وخطوط الإمداد العالمية، بما يعزز أمن الطاقة ويدعم استقرار حركة التجارة الدولية.#وزارة_الدفاع pic.twitter.com/XxorRfajva
— وزارة الدفاع (@modgovksa) November 9, 2025
These exercises aim to strengthen combat readiness, improve naval units’ capabilities during joint operations, and enhance maritime security interoperability among the Saudi Armed Forces and the Red Sea littoral states, Al-Juaid said.
Several combat units participate in the exercise, including His Majesty’s Ships, helicopters, fast response boats, and maritime special security force, as well as several fighter jets.
