Al Dhafra Air Base


Al Dhafra Air Base is a military installation in the United Arab Emirates. The base is located approximately south of Abu Dhabi, and is operated by the United [Arab Emirates Air Force].
WWW Official Site

History

The base was attacked by the Houthis on 17 and 24 January 2022. An Emirati THAAD intercepted a midrange ballistic missile on January 17 and two missiles aimed at the base were intercepted and destroyed on January 24 by Patriot missiles. The interception by the THAAD marked the system’s first known use in a military operation.

Facilities

The airport sits at an elevation of above mean sea level. It has two runways, 13L/31R and 13R/31L, each with an asphalt surface measuring.

Role and operations

United Arab Emirates Air Force

The air base is the headquarters of the Western Air Command of the United Arab Emirates Air Force. It hosts the UAE Air Force Fighter Wing, comprising the 1st Shaheen Squadron, 2nd Shaheen Squadron, and 3rd Shaheen Squadron which is equipped with the Lockheed Martin F-16E/F Desert Falcon). The base is also home to the 71st and 76th Fighter Squadrons which operate the Dassault Mirage 2000-9EAD/DAD.

Military intervention against ISIL

United States

Al Dhafra hosts the United States Air Force's 380th Air Expeditionary Wing, established at the base on 25 January 2002. The 380 AEW's mission is to carry out combat operations to provide high-altitude all-weather intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, airborne command and control and aerial refueling for military operations against ISIL/ISIS and previously, NATO-led operations in Afghanistan. The wing is known to have operated the F-15C Eagle, F-15E Strike Eagle, F-22A Raptor, KC-10A Extender, E-3 Sentry U-2S Dragon Lady and EQ-4 and RQ-4 Global Hawk. The first USAF F-35 Lightning II deployed to the Middle East was deployed to Al Dhafra Air Base in April 2019.
While the US military presence at the base dates back to the early 1990s, it was only officially acknowledged by the US Air Force in August 2017.
As of 2020, contractor activity at Al Dhafra on behalf of the US military includes work done by Abacus Technology Corp. information technology, Centurum information technology, in addition to various construction projects.

France

On 1 September 2008, the French [Air and Space Force|French Air Force] opened its own military settlement in the northwest corner of the base, operating Dassault Mirage 2000-5Fs.
With military operations against ISIL/ISIS, the French also deployed Breguet Atlantique II maritime patrol aircraft as part of Opération Chammal.

Based units

Notable units based at Al Dhafra Air Base.

United Arab Emirates Air Force

Western Air Command

French Air and Space Force

United States Air Force

Air Combat Command
The 380th AEW is also known to operate the EQ-4B and RQ-4B Global Hawk.

United States Army

US Army Forces Command