(Aviation Week and Space Technology) - Faced with the loss of Saudi Arabia's large airfields for combat operations and, in particular, the critical combined air operations center (CAOC) south of Riyadh, the U.S. has been building and enlarging bases elsewhere. These efforts range from repairing three airfields capable of landing C-130 transports, in Kurd-controlled Northern Iraq, to expanding Al Udeid airbase near Doha on the east coast of Qatar. The base now has more ramp and hangar space for aircraft, and will host the new CAOC for the region which, in the event of conflict, would coordinate minute-to-minute air operations. The U.S. will also rely heavily on bases in Kuwait, Bahrain, UAE, Oman, and Turkey.
2002-08-22 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive