8 February 2013

Saudi Arabian Drone Base Under Construction

Wired's discovery of a drone base in Saudi Arabia is exemplary spotting.

No date for the facility has been provided, although there are reports construction was authorized in 2010 and the construction contract given to Blackwater/Xe/Academia.

Close examination of the base shows that it is under construction and far from ready for drone flights.

If it was used to launch the drone that killed Anwar al-Awlaki in September 2011 that means the photos show it well before that time.

It might be estimated that the stage of construction shown could be about 6-8 months after start, and about that amount of time to completion.

The main runway is being cast in concrete flags, square in shape, probably atop compacted gravel, and is far from complete. Checkboard casting patterns are conventional: Cast the first flag in steel formwork, after the concrete sets remove the formwork, then cast concrete flags in the the voids created. Leave gaps for expansion joint segments.

A concrete mixing plant is some distance away.

A secondary dirt runway has piles of material on it, thus not usable.

In front of the clamshell structures which will house the drones there is amply packed construction trailers, sheds and materials where drones will be readied for flight.

Ribs of a fabric structure lie flat before erection.

Foundation excavated for a future structure adjoining the apron.

The construction workers camp, with little or no security surrounding it. Two sewage pits. Circular driving track is peculiar, perhaps to train truck drivers for the many open-top tractor-trailers shown. Many trucks were needed to haul in materials over 240 miles from the nearest main Saudi town.

Foundation excavations for flight lines or support structures.