The Tunisian Armed Forces are set to enhance their training capabilities with a comprehensive upgrade of their primary training area at Ben Ghilouf. This development comes following the publication of detailed plans on the US government’s System for Award Management (SAM) website on May 15.
The upgrade project is currently in its third phase, as indicated by a solicitation from the US Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command. This phase involves the construction of a new life support area (LSA), which will include seven barracks buildings with the capacity to house 630 personnel, two dining facilities that can serve 430 individuals simultaneously, and two ablution blocks.
The documentation also reveals the scope of the first two phases of the upgrade. These initial stages encompass the establishment of a new range-operations center, the replacement of the range overwatch tower, the addition of a canopy structure equipped with seating and a terrain model for tactical briefings, and the construction of a helicopter landing zone. Improvements are also being made to the existing viewing stand and ablution facilities. Looking ahead, plans are in place for a second LSA of yet-to-be-determined dimensions and an urban combat training area designed to simulate real-life scenarios.
Interested contractors are urged to submit their bids for the third phase by May 20. The project timeline is set for completion within 675 calendar days following the awarding of the contract.
Meanwhile, in October 2021, Ultra received a $11 million order to upgrade Tunisian Command and Control System. The order was placed through the U.S. Navy International Program Office. The system chosen by the Tunisian Air Force (TAF) is Ultra’s Air Defense System Integrator (ADSI), it will allow the Tunisian army to have a real-time view of the activities of its forces and radar coverage and centralized communications. The ADSI is “currently the only C2 [command-and-control] system that meets the requirements for this effort, including interfacing with Tunisian infrastructure”.
It aligns the Tunisian systems with the equipment of the US Africa Command Theater Campaign Plan line of effort. It will allow interoperability with US forces and guarantee their security.
This strategic investment signifies a significant step forward in bolstering the training infrastructure of the Tunisian Armed Forces, reflecting a commitment to advancing military readiness and operational effectiveness.