Lockheed Martin, the giant American military aircraft manufacturer, will be the gold sponsor of the Bahrain International Airshow (BIAS) 2018, being held in November. 

 

Shaikh Abdulla bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Personal Representative of His Majesty the King and chairman of the Supreme Organising Committee of BIAS, signed the agreement with Lockheed Martin at the Farnborough Airshow, currently under way in the UK, said a Bahrain News Agency report.

 

The fifth edition of the biennial BIAS will be held from November 14 to 16, under the auspices of HM King Hamad.

 

Lockheed Martin is one of the largest companies in the aerospace, defence, security, and technology industries.

 

Shaikh Abdulla lauded Bahrain’s success in attracting mega civil and military aviation companies during the past four BIAS editions, as well as the good reputation enjoyed by the show at the regional and international levels.

 

This outstanding success is the fruitful outcome of the sound directives of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa to hold the biennial aviation event, he said.

 

He said that BIAS crowns Bahrain’s long history of aviation as it has contributed to the progress of the industry since the beginning of the 19th century thanks to its strategic location, linking the East and the West.

 

Shaikh Abdulla was speaking while visiting the 2018 Farnborough Airshow, at the official invitation of the Farnborough International.

 

Bahrain is participating in the Farnborough Airshow, being held from July 16 to 22, with a special pavilion to promote the BIAS 2018.

 

Shaikh Abdulla also signed a participation and silver sponsorship of BIAS with BAE Systems company, which is a British multinational defence, security, and aerospace company.  

 

BIAS chief also signed agreements with Etihad Airways Engineering; Mark Stewart Productions, a London-based television production company, specialising in commercials, high-end corporate films and broadcast documentaries, to provide video footage of BIAS 2018, and the Bahrain Airport Services (BAS) company.

 

He said that the BIAS spaces allocated for mega companies, as well as those at the 10,000-sq m exhibition hall have been sold out. 

 

He added that preparations to receive airshow teams and other planes have been completed, noting that BIAS 2018 will feature the participation of the US Air Force with the latest military aircraft of all types, including, hopefully, the fifth generation ones, in addition to aircraft from the UK Royal Air Force, French Air Force, the U.S Navy, and other civil, military and businessmen’s aircraft from the GCC States and other countries.

 

Shaikh Abdulla commended the efforts exerted by the Bahrain Defence Force, the Royal Bahraini Air Force, and the Civil Aviation Affairs at the Ministry of Transportation and Telecommunications to prepare for BIAS 2018, praising the close cooperation of the UK Farnborough company in this regard.