Muwaffaq Salti Air Base
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Muwaffaq Salti Air Base - Azraq (
History
In 1918, during World War I,
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 (Northrop F-5A/B Freedom Fighters) and No 11 squadrons (F-5E/F Tiger II's) were deployed there.
The air base was officially opened on May 24, 1981. It was named after Lieutenant Muwaffaq Salti who died in battle with the
Between October 2014 and July 2015 the
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 (CAS) and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) apron as well as a cargo marshaling yard.[2]
In April 2020, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Middle East District contracted American International Contractors to build infrastructure on the Air Base, including aprons and taxiways, a marshaling yard facility, and support facilities and utilities.[3] 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 released the solicitation to find a contractor to build a new air traffic control tower.[4]
Current use
Since 1997 No's 1, 2 and 6 (General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon) squadrons have been based there.
The American Government along with other countries has
Units
- 1st Fighter Squadron - F-16AM/BM MLU M2
- The 1st Squadron was formed in 1958 with Hawker Hunters and later equipped with F-5s then the Mirage F1 and now F-16 Fighting Falcon, which has become RJAF's primary fighter, operating with the 1st, 2nd and 6th Squadrons since 1997.
- The squadron’s role has changed over the years from air to ground, air to air and reconnaissance to air defense and air to ground, but is now, along with the other F-16 squadrons, the main striking force of RJAF. The 1st Squadron was the first fighter squadron and has a rich history. It participated in all the conflicts and engaged in every air battle that Jordan has fought since the squadron was formed in 1958.[9]
- 2nd Fighter Squadron - F-16AM/BM MLU M6.5
- The 2nd Squadron was first formed in 1958 with CASA C-101as the advanced jet trainer. It is now equipped with the F-16.
- The 2nd Squadron has a dual job: training newly graduate pilots on F-16s and supporting the 1st Squadron operations as required.
- The training, which is basically a tactical conversion course, extends over 8 months, during which pilots count 76 flights, averaging 85.7 hours.[10]
- 6th Fighter Squadron - F-16AM/BM MLU M3
- The 6th Squadron is identical to the 1st Squadron in mission and equipment.[11]
See also
References
This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency
- . September 2015. p. 74.
- ^ "Docs Show US To Massively Expand Footprint At Jordanian Air Base Amid Spats With Turkey, Iraq". thedrive.com. 14 January 2019.
- ^ "Contracts for April 10, 2020". U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE. Retrieved 2021-02-16.
- ^ US carrying out major upgrade to Jordanian airbase. 2021-12-01. Janes. Retrieved 2022-01-24.
- . May 2015. p. 56.
- ^ "Reaper Drones Revealed to Be Operating from Jordan - bellingcat". bellingcat. 25 February 2016. Retrieved 2016-03-02.
- ^ "Air Force identifies airman killed by storm in Jordan". Air Force Times. December 9, 2016.
- ^ "USARCENT command team travels region to focus on enduring partnership". US Army. December 9, 2016. Archived from the original on December 20, 2016. Retrieved December 9, 2016.
- ^ No 1 Squadron
- ^ No 2 Squadron
- ^ No 6 Squadron
External links