Royal Bahraini Air Force سلاح الجو الملكي البحريني | |
---|---|
![]() Flag of the Royal Bahraini Air Force | |
Active | 1977 – Present |
Country |
![]() |
Branch | Air Force |
Size |
1,500 active personnel (2009) 100 aircraft (2009). |
Part of |
Ministry of Defense Bahrain Defense Force |
Headquarters | Bahrain International Airport |
Nickname(s) | RBAF |
Engagements |
Invasion of Kuwait Gulf War |
Commanders | |
Commander | Maj Gen Hamad bin Abdullah Al Khalifa |
Insignia | |
Roundel |
![]() |
Aircraft flown | |
Attack | AH-1E, AH-1P, TAH-1P |
Fighter | F-16C, F-16D, F-5E, F-5F |
Helicopter | Bell 212, Bell 412, Bell 427, MBB BO-105, UH-60 |
Trainer | BH-129, T-67 |
Transport | BAE-146 |
The Royal Bahraini Air Force (abbreviated as RBAF, formerly known as Bahrain Amiri Air Force) is the aerial warfare branch of the Bahrain Defense Force. The air force had 650 personnel in 1992[1] and 1,500 in 2009.[2]
History[]
A Bahrain Air Force Agusta-Bell 212 Twin Huey in flight over the Persian Gulf during a training mission in 1991
The air branch of the Bahrain Defence Force was organized in 1977 and began flying helicopters. In 1986, F5 fighter jets were acquired from the United States.
In 1987, the Bahrain Defense Force was reorganized into separate Army, Navy and Air force branches with the Air Wing becoming the Bahrain Amiri Air Force (BAAF). The delivery of a squadron of F-16s from 1990 marked a further increase in the capabilities of the air arm. The new F-16 unit was based at Sheik Isa Air Base alongside the F-5s. On 2 August 1990 several aircraft from the Kuwait Air Force were evacuated to Bahrain during the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait. During the subsequent Gulf War, BAAF carried out the first F-5s and F-16s defensive missions on 25 January 1991 and began offensive operations the following day. The Gulf War ended on 28 February 1991.
A second batch of F-16s commenced delivery in 2000. The new aircraft were equipped to carry the AMRAAM missile, first used by the USAF in 1992. In July 2000, Bahrain signed a deal with BAE Systems to establish a pilot academy based around the Hawk Trainer, similar to the NFTC in Canada. Subsequently, orders were placed for Slingsby T67 Firefly and BAE Hawk trainers. The first trainers were delivered in October 2006.[3] After the elections on 14 February 2002, the state changed from an emirate to a kingdom resulting in the renaming of the Armed Forces. Since then the air force was called the RBAF rather than BAAF. According to Sikorsky’s announcement in June 2007, Bahrain confirmed the purchase of nine UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters. The helicopters will be used in a variety of roles, including combat search and rescue.
The British government is in early talks with Bahrain over a potential order for the Eurofighter Typhoon fighter.[4] Bahrain is considering buying the Eurofighter Typhoon, the JAS 39 Gripen, the Dassault Rafale, or the F-35 Lightning II.[5]
Incidents and accidents[]
One F-16 was lost on 27 September 2003 when it crashed in the Persian Gulf, 75 km (47 mi) north of Bahrain.[6]
Fleet[]
Aircraft | Photo | Origin | Role | Version | Quantity | Note |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Fighter Aircraft | ||||||
Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcon | File:FIND PICTURE.JPEG | United States | Fighter Aircraft | F16C F16D |
17[6] 4[7] |
18 delivered between 1990 and 2000.[8] One F-16 was lost on 27 September 2003 when it crashed in the Persian Gulf, 75 km (47 mi) north of Bahrain[6] Based at Isa Air Base |
Northrop F-5 | ![]() |
United States | Fighter Aircraft | F5E F5F |
12 4 |
Based at Isa Air Base |
Trainer Aircraft | ||||||
BAE Hawk | File:FIND PICTURE.JPEG | Trainer | 129 | 6 | Based at Isa Air Base | |
Slingsby T67 Firefly | File:FIND PICTURE.JPEG | Trainer | T67M-260 | 3 | Based at Isa Air Base | |
Transport Aircraft | ||||||
BAe 146 | ![]() |
Transport | 1 | |||
Attack helicopters | ||||||
Bell AH-1 Cobra | File:FIND PICTURE.JPEG | United States | Attack helicopter | AH-1E AH-1P TAH-1P |
10 6 6 |
Based at Riffa Air Base |
Utility helicopters | ||||||
Bell 212 Twin Huey | ![]() |
Utility helicopter | 11 | Based at Riffa Air Base | ||
MBB BO-105 | ![]() |
![]() |
Utility helicopter | 3 | Based at Riffa Air Base | |
Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk | File:FIND PICTURE | United States | Utility helicopter | UH-60L UH-60M |
2 14 |
VIP Transport Bahrain ordered 9 UH-60Ms in 2007.[9][10] 7 more on order as of December 2011[7] |
Bell 412 | File:FIND PICTURE | United States | Utility helicopter | 2 | Currently in use by the Bahraini Police | |
Bell 427 | File:FIND PICTURE | United States | Utility helicopter | 1 | Currently in use by the Bahraini Police |
Order of battle[]
1st Fighter Wing (Isa Air Base)[]
- 1st Fighter Squadron – F-16C/D Block 40
- 2nd Fighter Squadron – F-16C/D Block 40
- 6th Fighter Squadron – Northrop F-5E/F
- 5th Squadron – British Aerospace Hawk
- 4th Squadron – Slingsby T-67 Firefly
Helicopter Wing (Riffa Air Base)[]
- 3 Squadron – Agusta-Bell AB.212
- 8 Squadron – Bell AH-1E
- 9 Squadron – Bell AH-1E
- 10 Squadron – MBB Bo 105C
Bases[]
Base | Location | Runway | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Isa Air Base | 9.7 kilometres (6.0 mi) south of Jaww | Single 3,790 metres (12,430 ft) | Home to 1st Fighter Wing |
Sakhir Air Base | West of Mountain of Smoke | Helipad and short runway | Built in 1976. |
Riffa Air Base | 3.2 kilometres (2.0 mi) south east of Riffa | Single 175 metres (574 ft) runway and multiple helipads | Home to the Helicopter Wing |
Muharraq Air Base | Located within BIA | Was once an Royal Air Force station; now used by the USAF called Aviation Support Unit (ASU) Bahrain. |
See also[]
References[]
- ↑ A Country Study: Bahrain, Library of Congress.
- ↑ "Chapter Five: Middle East and North Africa". Routledge. 2009. p. 229. Digital object identifier:10.1080/04597220802709902.
- ↑ "Royal Bahraini Air Force", Scramble on the Web.
- ↑ http://www.defensenews.com/article/20130809/DEFREG01/308090009/Bahrain-UK-Discuss-Possible-Typhoon-Sale
- ↑ Bahraini Air Force Typhoon Order In Prospect - Armedforces-Int.com, 8 August 2013
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 F-16.net :: F-16 Airframe Details – RBAF F-16C # 204
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Flight International
- ↑ F-16 Air Forces - Bahrain :: F-16.net
- ↑ "Selected Acquisition Report – UH-60M Black Hawk" (PDF). US Department of Defense. December 31, 2011. p. 18. http://www.dod.gov/pubs/foi/logistics_material_readiness/acq_bud_fin/SARs/DEC%202011%20SAR/UH-60M%20BLACK%20HAWK%20-%20SAR%20-%2031%20DEC%202011.pdf.
- ↑ "Conventional Arms Transfers to Developing Nations, 2003–2010" (PDF). Congressional Research Service. p. 7. http://fpc.state.gov/documents/organization/174196.pdf.
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