Prince Salman:Armed forces combat ready

Defense Minister Prince Salman on Wednesday visited a number of military facilities in Al-Kharj, including Prince Sultan Air Base — the largest in the Middle East, and said he would continue efforts to strengthen the armed forces. “I will exert my efforts to complete the work done by my brother the late Prince Sultan (former defense minister) in developing the armed forces,” the minister said. He also underscored the combat readiness of armed forces in terms of training and armament. “I am happy to say that all these military facilities are well organized and I am really impressed by the spirit of giving shown by the Saudi officers there. It proves that the late Prince Sultan had picked the best men,” the prince said while speaking at a reception held on the occasion. He referred to his visits to the four major divisions of the armed forces in Riyadh. “I am proud of what I have seen. I am happy to say we have dedicated and well-trained men in all these sectors to carry out their mission.” Prince Salman also said that he was delighted to see officers of different sectors working as one team. The minister pledged all support for armed forces personnel to meet their needs. He described Al-Kharj as one of the oldest military regions of the Kingdom. While visiting the Prince Sultan Air Base, he wrote in the visitors’ register that the base’s achievements reflect the Saudi force’s “combat preparedness and continuous training to support the Kingdom’s integrated defense system.” He witnessed the performance of some of the advanced fighter jets. At the General Organization for Military Industries, Director General Maj. Gen. Abdul Aziz Al-Hodaithy, briefed Prince Salman on the organization’s facilities. “Our organization has been providing logistical and technical support to all sectors of the Defense Ministry,” he said. Salman’s visit covered factories for military tanks and armed vehicles and G36 guns. He also opened a new factory for light ammunition. Prince Salman commended the organization’s role and said it has been playing a great role in meeting the various requirements of the military including weapons, ammunitions, equipment and uniforms. Prince Salman earlier visited the military supply and maintenance center in Al-Kharj, which is fully manned by Saudi experts. He also watched a documentary on the center for the development of land forces.