The Saudi Royal Air Defense Force officially inaugurated the first unit of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile system, following the successful completion of system testing, evaluation, and field training of personnel within Saudi Arabia.

The launch ceremony was held at the Air Defense Forces Institute in Jeddah, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported.

During the event, the commander of the Royal Saudi Air Defense Forces handed over the unit’s flag to the Commander of the 1st Air Defense Group, marking the unit’s operational readiness.

The deployment of the first THAAD battery is part of a broader defense project aimed at boosting the Kingdom’s air defense capabilities and ensuring the protection of vital strategic infrastructure and national interests.

In another development, under the patronage of Minister of Education Yousef Al-Benyan, the Colleges of Excellence and Airbus launched a training program aimed at developing national expertise in helicopter maintenance.

The program will be delivered at the International Aviation Technical College in Riyadh, leveraging the technical expertise of both partners to offer high-quality training that equips trainees with advanced helicopter maintenance skills, meeting the sector's local and regional demands.

The program is set to begin with the start of the upcoming training year and will award enrollees a higher diploma in helicopter maintenance.