Al Dhafra Air Base

Al Dhafra Air Base
قاعدة الظفرة الجوية
Part of United Arab Emirates Air Force (UAEAF)
Located near: Al Dhafra, Abu Dhabi
United Arab Emirate Airforce (UAEAF) F-16E taking off from Al Dhafra Air Base.
Coordinates 24°14′24″N 054°32′54″E / 24.24000°N 54.54833°E / 24.24000; 54.54833Coordinates: 24°14′24″N 054°32′54″E / 24.24000°N 54.54833°E / 24.24000; 54.54833
Site information
Controlled by  United Arab Emirates Air Force
Site history
Built 1992
In use 1992 – present
Al Dhafra Air Base
قاعدة الظفرة الجوية
Summary
Airport type Military
Operator United Arab Emirates Air Force
United States Air Force
French Air Force
Serves Abu Dhabi, UAE
Location Al Dhafra, UAE
Time zone UAE Standard Time (UTC+04:00)
Elevation AMSL 77 ft / 23 m
Map
OMAM
Location in the UAE
Runways
Direction Length Surface
m ft
13L/31R 3,661 12,011 Asphalt
13R/31L 3,661 12,011 Asphalt
Sources:[1]

Al Dhafra Air Base (Arabic:قاعدة الظفرة الجوية) (IATA: DHF, ICAO: OMAM) is a military installation in the United Arab Emirates. The base is located approximately 20 mi (32 km) south of Abu Dhabi and is operated by the United Arab Emirates Air Force.

Facilities

The airport resides at an elevation of 77 ft (23 m) above mean sea level. It has two runways, 13L/31R and 13R/31L, each having an asphalt surface measuring 3,661 m × 46 m (12,011 ft × 151 ft).[1]

Hosted Units

The air base is the headquarters of the Western Air Command of the UAE Air Force. It hosts the UAE Air Force Fighter Wing, comprising the 1st Shaheen Squadron, 2nd Shaheen Squadron, and 3rd Shaheen Squadron (all equipped with F-16E/F Desert Falcon), and the 71st and 76th Fighter Squadrons (both with Mirage 2000-9EAD/DAD).

Current use

United States

The United States Air Force's 380th Air Expeditionary Wing (380 AEW) has a number of aircraft based here, including: Lockheed U-2S's,[2] McDonnell Douglas KC-10A Extenders, Boeing E-3 Sentrys (AWACS) and Northrop Grumman RQ-4 Global Hawks;[3] due to the military intervention against ISIL/ISIS, various other aircraft have been deployed there.[4]

France

On 1 September 2008 the French Air Force opened their own military settlement within the northwest corner of the base operating Dassault Rafales and Boeing C-135FR Stratolifters.

Also due to the military intervention against ISIL/ISIS, the French have also deployed Breguet Atlantique II maritime patrol aircraft as part of Opération Chammal.[5]

References

  1. 1 2 Airport information for OMAM from DAFIF (effective October 2006)
  2. ↑ AirForces Monthly. Stamford, Lincolnshire, England: Key Publishing Ltd. September 2014. p. 7.
  3. ↑ http://www.afcent.af.mil/Units/380thAirExpeditionaryWing/FactSheets/tabid/5413/Article/445043/380th-air-expeditionary-wing.aspx
  4. ↑ AirForces Monthly. Stamford, Lincolnshire, England: Key Publishing Ltd. May 2015. p. 56.
  5. ↑ AirForces Monthly. Stamford, Lincolnshire, England: Key Publishing Ltd. November 2014. p. 4.
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