ABHA, 19 July 2007 — Crown Prince Sultan, deputy premier and minister of defense and aviation, opened the seventh military exhibition at the King Khaled Airbase in the southern region yesterday.
Prince Sultan unveiled a memorial plaque and cut a ribbon signaling the formal opening of this year’s exhibition. The event was also attended by Asir Governor Prince Faisal ibn Khaled, Commander of the Southern Region Maj. Gen. Omar ibn Hassan Babaeer, Commander of the King Khaled Airbase Maj. Gen. Muhammad Saleh Al-Otaibi and several high-ranking military officers.
At the exhibition, the crown prince visited pavilions run by the army, the air force, the navy, and the military’s religious affairs, medical, anti-drugs, administration and cultural and education departments. The commander of the southern region briefed the crown prince about military hardware such as armored carriers, tanks, mortars, rocket launchers and fighter planes. Prince Sultan also viewed models of naval weaponry such as frigates, destroyers, submarines, seaplanes and anti-aircraft guns.
The crown prince watched an acrobatic display by the Saudi Falcons, and aircraft and freestyle parachute jumping. Various specialist navy aircrafts also displayed their skills in striking surface targets, offering support to ships and carrying out rescue operations. Air force planes also participated in various colorful and amazing formations, displaying various military maneuvers and exercises.
The military exhibition, which coincides with the Abha summer festival, aims to let the people of the region and tourists have an idea of the achievements of the Kingdom’s military forces. Entry to the expo is free and visitors are allowed to enter from the northern part of the airbase, the Saudi Press Agency reported yesterday.
The crown prince also opened a two-story mosque at the King Faisal Military City. The King Abdullah Mosque has a capacity to hold 3,000 worshippers. Prince Sultan performed Maghreb prayer at the new mosque.
