Thales US is to provide the Saudi Arabia National Guard with navigational aids and air traffic control equipment under a contract from the U.S. Air Force.

The technology will support visual and instrument flight rules for fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft.

The technology, provided as a result of a U.S. Foreign Military Sales arrangement, will be installed at two new Saudi Arabian airfields -- Khashm al-An, located east of Riyadh, and Dirab Airfield, southwest of Riyadh.

"The selection by the USAF to deploy a comprehensive navigation aid and ATC (air traffic control) technology infrastructure for SANG underscores the market's trust in Thales's proven military and civilian airspace solutions," said Tony Lo Brutto, Vice President in charge of ATM business, Thales US. "Additionally, the opportunity to lay the air traffic management foundation for these new airfields furthers our expertise in deploying high-functioning, high-accuracy ATM technology in demanding environment."

Thales said Khashm al-An Airfield is still under construction. When completed it will have a 2,000 yard paved runway and taxiway for fixed-wing aircraft. Construction on Dirab Airfield, for fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft has not yet begun.

Additional details of the contract were not disclosed.