RIYADH, 19 April 2004 — Information has become a component of national power, said Prince Khaled ibn Sultan, the deputy minister of defense and aviation for military affairs. He was opening the second international symposium on electronic war on behalf of Prince Sultan, second deputy premier and minister of defense and aviation, at the King Faisal Hall yesterday.
The program was sponsored by the Ministry of Defense in collaboration with the King Abdul Aziz City for Science and Technology (KACST). In addition to a large number of local delegates, participants from the United Kingdom, Pakistan, France and Sweden as well as defense attaches from foreign missions took part in the program.
Prince Khaled said people should know the value of exchanging information. “Every nation should keep abreast of technological developments and improve its human resources and technical equipment, keeping it ready for war.” He pointed out that United States is the country which has the best equipment in electronic war and has surpassed all other countries in its military capabilities.
While making the introductory remarks, Maj. Gen. Hamad Al-Yusuf said the three-day scientific session would feature 27 technical papers on the recent advances in the field of electronic war.
“Any military organization would be weak without its strategy for electronic warfare,” said Prince Turki ibn Saud, supervisor of space research institute at KACST.
He pointed out that KACST in cooperation with the Ministry of Defense had plans to embark on research programs on electronic war with university students in the Kingdom. To improve the capabilities for electronic war, a comprehensive program on offense, defense and support is needed by concerned authorities on land, air and space. “We cannot depend on any foreign source for this system,” the prince added.
“The consequences of electronic war are more disastrous than the outcome of the traditional war,” said Communications and Information Technology Minister Muhammad Jamil Mulla.
After the symposium began, Prince Khaled opened an exhibition highlighting technological developments made in the field of electronic war in the Kingdom.
