Thales To Provide Navaids, ATC To Saudi Arabia

Thales has won a contract to provide navigation aids (navaids) and air traffic control tower equipment to Saudi Arabia National Guard.

The technology will support visual and instrument flight rules for fixed and rotary wing aircraft at two new Saudi Arabian airfields – Khashm al-An Airfield, east of Riyadh, and Dirab Airfield, southwest of Riyadh.

Khashm al-An Airfield is still under construction, and will feature a 2,000 meter paved runway and taxiway for fixed-wing aircraft. Construction on Dirab Airfield has not yet begun; the Airfield will accommodate both fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft. Once operational, these airfields will house the Saudi National Guard’s aircraft.

The technology being deployed at these airfields is certified to meet all the international standards, supporting the safe operation of both facilities.

“The opportunity to lay the air traffic management foundation for these new airfields furthers our expertise in deploying high functioning, high accuracy ATM technology in demanding environments.” Tony Lo Brutto, Vice President in charge of ATM business, Thales US.