Al-Safran Air Base
Airport
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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 | 120 m (390 ft) | ||||||||||
| 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 Alnaboodah Construction Group[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]