Crown prince opens aircraft updating center in Eastern Region

Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz: Typhoon planes to arrive soon, private sector's participation in armed forces projects welcomed

Crown Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz, Deputy Premier, Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General, graced today the opening of the center of airplanes' modernization and the foundation stone laying of the technical zone of the new fighter typhoon airplanes in King Abdulaziz Air Base in Eastern Sector in the Eastern Region.

Upon arrival at the venue of the ceremony accompanied by Prince Mohammad bin Fahd bin Abdulaziz, the Governor of the Eastern Region, the crown prince was received by Prince Jlwi bin Abdulaziz bin Mosaed, Assistant Deputy Governor of the Eastern Region, and other senior officials.

In a speech on the occasion, Prince Lt. General Abdulrahman bin Fahd Alfaisal, Commander of the Air Forces, said the 300,000 square meters airplanes' modernization center includes hangers for airplanes accommodating 20 airplanes and a number of technical workshops and supporting facilities.

He added that the project of laying the foundation stone of the technical zone of the Typhoon airplanes will include the construction of the buildings for the squadrons, hangers for airplanes and training programs.

Responding to reporters' questions, the crown prince said, "The private sector in part of the state and we welcome all cooperation with them. If they present to us any work, we will welcome it very much."

On the presence of an intention to create centers similar to those opened today in King Abdulaziz Air Base, the crown prince answered, "We will not stop building the infrastructure of the country, God willing."

On the level of the kingdom's representation at the Arab Summit, the crown prince said, "This is up to the [king]."

On the date of the arrival of the Typhoon airplanes in the kingdom, the crown prince said, "I think it will be after some months. The important issue is to accommodate and shelter them and train the pilots very well."

In statements to SPA, Lt. General Abdulrahman bin Fahd al-Faisal, the Commander of the Royal Saudi Air Forces, noted that the new center will be a center for updating and assembling systems of the planes of the Royal Saudi Air Forces.

The project of the center will be implemented on an area of 300,000 square meters within 18 months, he noted.

Alfaisal pointed out that the project includes hangars with a capacity of 20 planes , as well as a hangar for painting the planes, a zone of washing the planes, a store for hazardous materials in addition to a mosque with a capacity of 300 worshippers, a garage for tanks of the aircraft fuel, a workshop, a water desalination station, a parking zone with a capacity of 240 cars, a hangar for maintenance of systems of the aircraft fuel, an electricity station, an inspection and operation zone , a restaurant and other utilities.