Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces Marshal Husein Al Gubayyel, assisted by Deputy President of King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology Prince Turki Bin Saud Bin Mohammed Al Saud, cut the ceremonial ribbon during the opening of the 3rd Saudi symposium of EW at KACST headquarters in Riyadh on Tuesday. Saeed Al Khotani Saudi Gazette
RIYADH – Saudi experts have acquired wide expertise in the field of electronic warfare (EW) and the Kingdom are going ahead in enhancing their capabilities in this field, said Deputy President of King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology, Prince Turki Bin Saud Bin Mohammed Al Saud, at his opening address in the 3rd Saudi symposium of EW at KACST headquarters in Riyadh on Tuesday. “This was because EW has become an important element in today's world occupying outstanding position in the civil and military activities and as well has become a concern to the majority of the countries including us,” the Prince said. “KACST has established an specialized center for censors and defensive electronics as part of its structures with the aim of conducting scientific researches for application purposes and technology transfer to serve our armed forces and build competent national capabilities in EW to secure self-reliance to the nation in this field,” he added. The symposium was opened by Prince Turki and the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces, Field Marshal Husein Al Gubayyel, in the presence of a large audience of top military and civil officials along with researchers and experts. A group of Saudi senior military experts in EW were honored for their distinguished efforts and contribution in developing the field of EW and building capabilities in the Kingdom. Also American Lt Gen Robert J. Elder, Jr., the President of the Association of Old Crows (AOC), was honored at the event organized by KACST, Ministry of Defense, and the Saudi chapter of AOC. AOC is a not-for-profit international professional association with over 13,500 members and 180 organizations engaged in the science and practice of EW, Information Operations, and related disciplines. Its name “Old Crows” emerged from the first large-scale use of Electronic Warfare during the WWII Battle of Britain and the US and allied bombing raids over Europe. The Allied Radar Countermeasure operators used the codename “Ravens” and employed receivers and transmitters to monitor and jam threat frequencies. Military jargon later changed “Ravens” to “Crows”. The Saudi chapter of AOC was established 2008, but did not get official recognition until this year during the fiftieth anniversary of the association in USA. Both Prince Turki and Al Gubayyel opened and toured the exhibition organized alongside the symposium. Around 30 exhibitors participated in the exhibition from 14 countries displaying the latest products in EW.
