King Salman Air Base
King Salman Air Base | |||||||||
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قاعدة الملك سلمان الجوية | |||||||||
| Riyadh, Riyadh Province in Saudi Arabia | |||||||||
| Site information | |||||||||
| Type | Airbase | ||||||||
| Owner | Ministry of Defense | ||||||||
| Operator | Royal Saudi Air Force | ||||||||
| Location | |||||||||
  King Salman Air Base Shown within Saudi Arabia | |||||||||
| Coordinates | 24°28′12″N 46°39′34″E / 24.47000°N 46.65944°E | ||||||||
| Area | 45sqkm[1] | ||||||||
| Site history | |||||||||
| Built | 2025 | ||||||||
| In use | 2025 - present | ||||||||
| Airfield information | |||||||||
| Identifiers | ICAO: OERY | ||||||||
| Elevation | 635 metres (2,083 ft) AMSL | ||||||||
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King Salman Air Base (ICAO: OERY, Arabic: قاعدة الملك سلمان الجوية), is an Royal Saudi Air Force (RSAF) air base that is currently under construction. It is aimed at relocating RSAF operations from the old Riyadh Air Base to the new site, which was demolished between 2021 and 2022 for Saudi Vision 2030.
History
[edit]Originally served Riyadh was the former Riyadh Air Base, it was located at 24°42′35″N 46°43′31″E / 24.70972°N 46.72528°E.
In December 1983, King Khalid International Airport was opened, which led to the airport becoming a Royal Saudi Air Force (RSAF) air base.
- Status
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It's currently demolished to construct King Salman Park, the airport grounds are now converted into construction sites and hills and the Air Base is demolished for the sake of the project.
- Reason for closure
Originally, the airport was located at a far distance from the city shown in a 1966 declassified satellite image of Riyadh.[2] However, soon by the late 1970s, the airport was surrounded by housing, meaning the construction for a new airport was necessary. In 1983, King Khalid International Airport was opened, so the airport was converted into a military airbase. The airbase was used until it was demolished in 2020–2021.
Construction of the new Air Base
[edit]The Ministry of Defense and Royal Saudi Air Force begun the relocation from the former King Salman Air Base to the new site. On 14 May 2020, the site was handed over to its contractors. It is located on a 45-square-kilometer site in southwest Riyadh. The construction included new facilities such as security facilities, runways, yards, aircraft maintenance facilities, public facilities, residential, and administrative areas. The project totaled up to 100 buildings, each equipped with its own emergency generator.[3]
The Naseem Al Namaa company was contracted to install wide electrical LV & MV networks and telecom networks.[3] The Samnan Group was responsible for providing tanks, control panels, pumps, and other fuel systems. The work was overseen by engineers.[4]
By 2024, both runways were paved. On 5 January 2025, the Riyadh Municipality begun a comprehensive development project to improve traffic movement at the entrance of the air base and Al-Nafud Road. This included the implementation of excavation and backfilling works to prepare infrastructure, in addition to rainwater drainage networks. Works were also being made to pave roads and the installation of lighting systems. The additions are expected to open in June 2025, contributing to the Kingdom's Vision 2030. King Salman Air Base also headquarters the 10th Aviation Wing RSAF.[5][6]
See also
[edit]
References
[edit]- ^ "King Salman Airbase project". Middle East Tenders. Retrieved 8 May 2025.
- ^ "Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – 18 May 1966". Space From Space. Retrieved 10 May 2025.
- ^ a b "Electrical & Telecom Infrastructure Works at King Salman Air Base". NAMAA Contracting Co. 2024. Retrieved 2025-05-08.
- ^ "مشروع محطة تنقية مياه شرب – المجمعة". Samnan Group (in Arabic). Retrieved 8 May 2025.
- ^ "أمانة الرياض تبدأ تنفيذ تقاطع حر عند مدخل قاعدة الملك سلمان الجوية". Saudi Press Agency (in Arabic). 6 July 2025. Retrieved 8 May 2025.
- ^ "بدء تطوير مدخل قاعدة الملك سلمان الجوية". Almowaten (in Arabic). 5 January 2025. Retrieved 8 May 2025.
External links
[edit]
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