Ali Al Salem Air Base

Coordinates: 29°20′48″N 47°31′14″E / 29.34667°N 47.52056°E / 29.34667; 47.52056
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Ali Al Salem Air Base
قاعدة علي السالم الجوية
Jahra Governorate in Kuwait
A Kuwait Air Force Eurocopter AS-332M Super Puma of the 32nd Helicopter Squadron based at Ali Al Salem AB
A Kuwait Air Force Eurocopter AS-332M Super Puma of the 32nd Helicopter Squadron based at Ali Al Salem AB
Ali Al Salem AB is located in Kuwait
Ali Al Salem AB
Ali Al Salem AB
Location in Kuwait
Coordinates29°20′48″N 47°31′14″E / 29.34667°N 47.52056°E / 29.34667; 47.52056
TypeKuwait Air Force base
Site information
OwnerMinistry of Defense
OperatorKuwait Air Force
ConditionOperational
Garrison information
Garrison
Airfield information
Identifiers
AMSL
Runways
Direction Length and surface
12L/30R 2,989 metres (9,806 ft) concrete/asphalt
12R/30L 2,989 metres (9,806 ft) concrete/asphalt
Sources: World Aero Data[1]

Ali Al Salem Air Base (

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).

History

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

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

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

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. ^ a b "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. ^ "Alisalemairbase - WWW".
  3. ^ a b "Ali Al Salem Air Base in Kuwait City, Kuwait". MilitaryBases.com. Retrieved 20 November 2015.
  4. ^ "Orbats – Kuwait Air Force". Scramble – Dutch Aviation Society. Retrieved 21 February 2022.
  5. ^ "Factsheet – 386th Air Expeditionary Wing". US Air Forces Central. US Air Force. 6 October 2021. Retrieved 21 February 2022.
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