Muwaffaq Salti Air Base


Muwaffaq Salti Air Base is a Royal Jordanian Air Force air base located in Azraq, Zarqa Governorate, Jordan.

History

In 1918, during World War I, T. E. Lawrence used the historic castle in Azraq and the plains at that site as a base for use as a landing ground for the aircraft which were supporting the column pushing north towards Syria. The main qualities of the area were its good visibility and fine weather for flying.
In 1976, the area was chosen by the Royal Jordanian Air Force for a major new air base. Construction started that same year and in November 1980, No 1 and No 11 Squadrons were deployed there.
The air base was officially opened on 24 May 1981. It was named after Lieutenant Muwaffaq Salti who died in battle with the Israeli Air Force on 13 November 1966, during the Battle of Samou. It was initially home to Nos 1 and 25 Mirage squadrons. Between 1997 and 2007 Mirage squadrons were based here.
Between October 2014 and July 2015 the Belgian Air Component deployed six Lockheed Martin F-16AM Fighting Falcons here as well under Operation Desert Falcon due to the military intervention against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant.
In 2019 the United States began a $143 million expansion of the airbase. The expansion includes a new airlift apron, a personnel recovery and special operations forces apron, and a close air support and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance apron as well as a cargo marshaling yard.
In April 2020, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Middle East District contracted American International Contractors to build infrastructure on the airbase, including aprons and taxiways, a marshaling yard facility, and support facilities and utilities. Beginning in November 2021, the United States began upgrading the airbase to turn it into a more permanent base with the US Army Corps of Engineers releasing the solicitation to find a contractor to build a new air traffic control tower.

Current use

Since 1997 Nos 1, 2 and 6 Squadrons have been based there.
The American Government along with other countries has deployed various aircraft there due to the military intervention against ISIL. The base is reported to host several MQ-9 Reaper drones, based on satellite imagery. The base is partly operated by the 407th Air Expeditionary Group.

Units