Al-Safran Air Base Explained

Icao:OMLW
Type:Military
Liwa Air Base
Coordinates:23.6519°N 53.8206°W
Operator:United Arab Emirates Air Force
R1-Number:13/31
R1-Length-M:3670
R1-Length-F:12040
R1-Surface:Paved
Elevation-M:120
Pushpin Map:UAE
Pushpin Map Caption:Location in the United Arab Emirates
Pushpin Label:Liwa AB

The Al-Safran Air Base ([1] alternatively called Liwa[2]) is a military air base operated by the United Arab Emirates Air Force, located approximately 80 miles southwest of Abu Dhabi, near Madinat Zayed.[3] [4]

History

Construction of the base cost an estimated $1 billion.[3] Construction was carried out by Capriole Construction Co. LLC.[5] A Mirage 2000 squadron was moved to the base in 2007, and it was completed in approximately 2008.[3] [6] The base underwent an expansion of its airport apron in 2017, the same year it added six new aircraft shelters.

Description

The base has one runway, hardened aircraft shelters, and a subterranean ammunition dump.[3] The bases houses two ground control stations.[7] The base is defended by the Super aEgis II sentry gun.[8]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2018-11-08. UAE Aeronautical Information Publication GEN 2.4. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20210403124059/https://www.gcaa.gov.ae/aip/current/AIRACs/2021-P03/pdf/GEN-2.4.pdf. 2021-04-03. 2021-04-03. www.gcaa.gov.ae. General Civil Aviation Authority. en-GB.
  2. News: US embassy cables: UAE prince fears 'logic of war' . . The UAE recently hosted an AFCENT survey team to consider U.S. access to Liwa (Safran) Air Base in support of contingency operations. . February 9, 2010 . Richard Gustave . Olson.
  3. Book: Tim Ripley. Middle East Air Power in the 21st Century. 1 January 2010. Casemate Publishers. 978-1-84884-099-7. 240.
  4. . Al-Dhafra AB, a major hub for USAF operations in the region, is the main UAE fighter base, while a new facility called Al-Safran, built in the desert near Madinat Zayed, is home to Mirage 2000 units. . It's Open Season For Defense Sales To UAE . Bill . Sweetman . Tony . Osborne .
  5. Web site: List of projects . Construction of Different facilities at Safran Airbase Safran Airbase, Liwa [...] Capriole Construction Co.LLc . Abo Raia Technical Work LLC . October 6, 2018.
  6. . UAE's Mysterious Airbase . Tony . Osborne . This led to the construction of a new fighter air base called Al-Safran AB near the town of Al-Gharbia, housing at least one Mirage 2000 unit. Al-Safran is believed to have opened between around 2008..
  7. News: UAV Infrastructure Noted at the UAE's al-Safran Airbase . Bellingcat Investigation Team . . October 2, 2018.
  8. News: Killer robots: The soldiers that never sleep . . Simon . Parkin . July 16, 2015 . The Super aEgis II, first revealed in 2010, is one of a new breed of automated weapon, able to identify, track and destroy a moving target from a great distance, theoretically without human intervention [...] The turret is currently in active use in numerous locations in the Middle East, including three airbases in the United Arab Emirates (Al Dhafra, Al Safran and Al Minad)[...].

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