Ali_Al_Salem_Air_Base

Ali Al Salem Air Base

Ali Al Salem Air Base

Airport in Kuwait

Ali Al Salem Air Base (ICAO: OKAS) is a military air base situated in Kuwait, approximately 23 miles (37 km) from the Iraqi border, and roughly 15 km west of Al Jahra. The airfield is owned by the Government of Kuwait, and hosted the Royal Air Force (RAF), United States Air Force (USAF), and United States Marine Corps (USMC) personnel and aircraft during Operation Southern Watch and Operation Iraqi Freedom. The base also hosted the Royal Air Force (RAF) during Operation Telic. Since the cessation of those operations, the base has been returned to the control of the Kuwaiti Government, with the USAF continuing to maintain a presence alongside their Kuwait Air Force counterparts. The principal USAF unit on base is the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing (386 AEW).

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History

Significant bomb damage to a HAS incurred during the first Persian Gulf War in 1991. Bomb damage caused by precision-guided "bunker busting" munitions is still visible 27 years (2019) after the liberation of Ali Al Salem.

Gulf War

In 1990, the base was the last to be overrun during the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait. On August 3, Ali Al Salem was the only air base not occupied by Iraq. [needs copy edit]A small number of Kuwaiti regulars, staff officers, and the base Commander, General Saber Suwaidan [2] stayed to fight and organize resupply missions from Saudi Arabia. By the end of the day, Ali Al Salem had been overrun. Upon discovery by the Iraqi military, the Kuwaiti General was hanged from the base flagpole by Iraqi troops.[3] New flagpoles have since been installed, however as of December 2012, the original pole still stands. The remaining Kuwaiti military personnel were lined up outside the old Kuwaiti officers' club and shot.[3] While no longer used, the building and bullet holes remain.

Operation Desert Fox and Operation Telic

The Royal Air Force operated out of Ali Al Salem from early 1998, just before Operation Desert Fox. The RAF detachment consisted of various non-formed units, and a rotating Squadron of Panavia Tornado GR1s and later Tornado GR4s. The base was rapidly expanded in early 2003 to base the Joint Helicopter Command assets prior to the start of Operation Telic, the British designation for the US-designated Operation Iraqi Freedom.

During the war, the RAF amalgamated five Tornado GR4 Squadrons based at AAS to form the Ali Al Salem Combat Air Wing, commanded by Wing Commander Paddy Teakle OBE (OC 31 Squadron). He was awarded the DSO for his leadership.

The RAF had relocated to Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar by 2004, though some elements remained through 2008, and it serves as a backup and emergency strip for RAF operations.

Infrastructure and facilities

The airport resides at an elevation of 472 feet (144 m) above mean sea level. It has two asphalt/concrete runways: 12R/30L measuring 2,989 by 45 metres (9,806 ft × 148 ft) and 12L/30R measuring 2,989 by 40 metres (9,806 ft × 131 ft).[1]

Role and operations

Kuwait Air Force

The Kuwait Air Force Flight Training School is located at Ali Al Salem. The base is also home to the Air Force's attack and support helicopter squadrons.

Military intervention against ISIL

Further information: Military intervention against ISIL order of battle

The base currently hosts several non-Kuwaiti military units, mainly the 386th AEW USAF.

Based units

Flying and notable non-flying units based at Ali al Salem Air Base.[4][5]

Future

Starting in 2018, expansion on the base was begun by the Kuwaiti Air Force to include a new asphalt/concrete runway and extensive new hangar facilities to support the future delivery of Eurofighters intended to replace their existing complement of F-18C fighter jets.

The base expansion was completed in the second half of 2020 with the delivery of the 28 Eurofighters finishing shortly after.

See also

References

  1. [1]
    "Ali Al Salem Ab - Okas". World Aero Data. Archived from the original on 2016-03-03. Retrieved 2015-11-11.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  2. [2]
    "Alisalemairbase - WWW".
  3. [3]
    "Ali Al Salem Air Base in Kuwait City, Kuwait". MilitaryBases.com. Retrieved 20 November 2015.
  4. [4]
    "Orbats – Kuwait Air Force". Scramble – Dutch Aviation Society. Retrieved 21 February 2022.
  5. [5]
    "Factsheet – 386th Air Expeditionary Wing". US Air Forces Central. US Air Force. 6 October 2021. Retrieved 21 February 2022.
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