I am curious if the Saudis ever buy the Raptor....at least they can afford it.....
Sure, if the US would allow them.
In the 80's they bought F-15 (the best thing they could get their hands on) and Tornado (this is a questionable choice).
Well they bought F-15C/Ds, so you need something to strike ground targets on a SAM-invested battlefield, in the 1980s the best answer would been the Tornado IDS, or the F-15E, which they got much later in downgraded form as F-15S. About the ADV, as an interceptor it had some advantages over the F-15, and don't put all your money on one horse. Nowadays we all know that the F-16 turned out to be better of taking on the swing-role and thus more capable overall... and Tornado was not the best platform for an interceptor. But I wouldn't say the choice of the Tornado was questionable, unless you mean bribes and stuff, in that case, wake up and see the real world
Now they are buying Eurocanard 2000, and they surely need something else since 24 aircrafts in a huge desert is very low density solution...
72 + 24, with AWACS support, and USAF in Qatar... they'll be in good shape. Plus you have a 70-strong fleet of F-15S that will soldier on for some time and can also take on an air defense role.
Lets say the Saudi's for there own protection had to go across the Gulf and hit rocket batteries in Iran themselves do they have enough attack or strike aircraft? I'll admit I don't think this would happen because coalition and US forces would been pressed into service long before Saudi's own aircraft would be use but are there Tornado & pilots ready for it?
Let's say when that time comes, they'll either have:
70-80 upgraded Tornados, capable of cruise missiles, Brimstone and LGB, plus ASRAAM self defence
60-70 upgraded F-15S, with AGM-88, LBGs, maybe even SDBs, plus AIM-120/AIM-9
50-70 Typhoons, plus ASRAAM, Meteor, AIM-120
or:
40-60 F-35 JSF
20-40 F-15S
80-90 Typhoons
So, yes. But I am afraid it will get very bloody. Regarding pilots, well at this moment, I wouldn't know about their night flying capabilities, but in another 5-10 years... well at least they'll be better trained and equipped than Iran's pilots.