Saudi Arabiainfo-icon unveiled its next-generation fighter-bomber on Wednesday, nearly two years after beginning a controversial air warinfo-icon in Yemeninfo-icon.

At a ceremony and air show in the Saudi capital, a hangar opened to reveal one of the F-15SA Eagle aircraft made by USinfo-icon manufacturer Boeing.

A missileinfo-icon was attached to the belly of the plane displayed against the backdrop of a giant Saudi flag.

Watched by King Salman and his son, Defence Minister and Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the unveiling at the King Faisal Air Academy was part of a ceremony to mark the school's 50th anniversary and the graduation of its latest class.

Sudaninfo-icon's President Omar al-Bashir, whose country is part of the Saudi-led coalition fighting rebels in Yemen, also attended.

The coalition began air strikes over Yemen in March 2015 after Iraninfo-icon-backed Huthi rebels and allied troops loyal to ex-president Ali Abdullah Saleh overran much of Yemen.

Riyadh feared the Huthis would seize all of Yemen and move it into the orbit of Shiainfo-icon Iran, Sunni Saudi Arabia's regional rival.

Saudi Arabia is to add 84 F-15SA warplanes to its air force under a nearly $30 billion deal signed in 2011 that also included Black Hawk and Apache helicopters.

According to IHS Jane's Defence Weekly, the first of the F-15SAs -- the most advanced version of the Eagle built so far -- arrived in December. Saudi Arabia also has Eurofighter Typhoons and Tornados, which joined several F-15s -- including the newest version -- in the air show held over the skies of Riyadh.

The Stockholm International Peace Researchinfo-icon Institute reported in April that Saudi Arabia was the worldinfo-icon's third-largest defence spender.