RIYADH: The government of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman has paid great attention to scientific and technological developments including electronic warfare and the operation of radar systems, King Abdul Aziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) President Prince Turki bin Saud bin Mohammed Al-Saud said here on Sunday.

The prince delivered the keynote address at the inauguration of the 4th Electronic Warfare Symposium 2015, held under the the aegis of Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

The inaugural speech was made by Saudi Armed Forces Chief of Staff Gen. Abdul Rahman bin Saleh Al-Bhunyan in the presence of a distinguished gathering including Shoura Council Chairman Abdullah Al-Asheikh.

Prince Al-Saud said the support of the government is amply proven through ongoing projects such as the joint supervisory committee between KACST and the Ministry of Defense, the National Center for Sensor and Defense Technology and the the Saudi Company for Development and Technical Investment (TAQNIYA), owned by the Public Investment Fund.

He also said that KACST supports more than 400 companies in the Kingdom that are involved in research and development to turn it into a knowledge-based country.

The prince explained that the three-day event will include workshops, exhibitions displaying the latest services and products connected to electronic warfare. “It is aimed at encouraging scientific research in the field of electronic warfare techniques, creating an awareness of their importance, and reviewing experiments and new challenges in this area.”

“The symposium will discuss the importance of obtaining information on enemy forces, as well as protecting the armed forces through electronic means,” said Gen. Al-Bhunyan.

He said the armed forces in the Kingdom are implementing a comprehensive program on training skills, organizing seminars and lectures, and focusing on increasing awareness and capabilities of civilian and military employees to adapt themselves to the changing cyber developments in the field of electronic warfare.

Two agreements were signed on the sidelines of the symposium. KACST signed a research cooperation agreement with the Undersecretariat of Defense Industries of Turkey, and a term sheet was signed between TAQNIA Defense and Security Technology with ASELAN Company.

Under this alliance, researchers from the parties concerned will cooperate in joint research projects and the development of technologies to serve the transfer of technology in the Kingdom. They will also work on joint manufacturing and commercialization of the products manufactured under the programs.