A US Air Force intensive electronic warfare training course earlier this year produced its first graduating class of Royal Saudi Air Force officers in a milestone for the military partnership between the United States and Saudi Arabia.

The 13 Saudi officers received their Electronic Warfare Officer training graduation certificates during a ceremony attended by senior US Air Force and Saudi military leaders on March 5.

The program spanned over three and a half years and consisted of 4,400 hours of instruction. It included four phases and 34 courses, as well as various exercises and simulations.

Electronic warfare involves the strategic use of the electromagnetic spectrum in conflict.

It includes tactics like hindering the exchange of enemy information by overriding radio transmissions or misleading radar detection.

It also covers signal intelligence gathering -- eavesdropping on or intercepting enemy communications for intelligence purposes -- as well as electronic protective measures against similar enemy tactics.

The next electronic warfare cohort is set to graduate in 2025.

With four years of intensive training, this Saudi team has reached the pinnacle of expertise, enabling it to execute autonomous programming for the Royal Saudi Air Force.

The graduates are among the best trained electronic warfare and cyber specialists in the world, according to the US Air Force.

"You are the beneficiaries of a one-of-a-kind training course tailored specifically to support the Royal Saudi Air Force," Col. Casey Pombert, US Air Force Security Assistance and Training Squadron commander, told the graduates. "I wish each of you great success and in all your future endeavors."

Military partnership milestone

The graduates' achievements attest to the military collaboration between Saudi Arabia and the United States.

US training in particular not only has elevated the capabilities of the Royal Saudi Air Force but has solidified the foundation of the alliance.

The United States has worked alongside Saudi forces and offered regular training over the years.

Last December, the United States renewed a training program for Saudi Arabia worth $1 billion.

US-Saudi cooperation has included drills like Native Fury, in which US and Saudi troops biennially work together on strategic access and refined command and control.

Most recently, the eighth iteration of Native Fury in May included the US Marine Corps and Saudi and United Arab Emirates forces.

The partner forces engaged in on-load and off-load operations using commercial maritime shipping, long-distance convoys and urban combat training.