Al-Safran Air Base
The Al-Safran Air Base (ICAO: OMLW,[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]
Liwa Air Base | |||||||||||
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| Summary | |||||||||||
| Airport type | Military | ||||||||||
| Operator | United Arab Emirates Air Force | ||||||||||
| Elevation AMSL | 394 ft / 120 m | ||||||||||
| Coordinates | 23°39′7″N 53°49′14″E | ||||||||||
| Map | |||||||||||
  Liwa AB Location in the United Arab Emirates | |||||||||||
| Runways | |||||||||||
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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.[7]
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]
References
- "UAE Aeronautical Information Publication GEN 2.4" (PDF). www.gcaa.gov.ae. General Civil Aviation Authority. 2018-11-08. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2021-04-03. Retrieved 2021-04-03.
- Olson, Richard Gustave (February 9, 2010). "US embassy cables: UAE prince fears 'logic of war'". The Guardian.
The UAE recently hosted an AFCENT survey team to consider U.S. access to Liwa (Safran) Air Base in support of contingency operations.
- Tim Ripley (1 January 2010). Middle East Air Power in the 21st Century. Casemate Publishers. p. 240. ISBN 978-1-84884-099-7.
- Sweetman, Bill; Osborne, Tony. "It's Open Season For Defense Sales To UAE". Aviation Week.
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.
- "List of projects". Abo Raia Technical Work LLC. Retrieved October 6, 2018.
Construction of Different facilities at Safran Airbase Safran Airbase, Liwa [...] Capriole Construction Co.LLc
- Osborne, Tony. "UAE's Mysterious Airbase". Aviation Week.
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.
- Bellingcat Investigation Team (October 2, 2018). "UAV Infrastructure Noted at the UAE's al-Safran Airbase". bellingcat.
- Parkin, Simon (July 16, 2015). "Killer robots: The soldiers that never sleep". BBC News.
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)[...]