| Al Dhafra Air Base | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
قاعدة الظفرة الجوية | |||||||||
| Al Dhafra,Abu Dhabi in theUnited Arab Emirates | |||||||||
 AUnited Arab Emirates Air ForceF-16E Desert Falcon of the type based at Al Dhafra AB | |||||||||
 Emblem of theUnited Arab Emirates Air Force | |||||||||
| Site information | |||||||||
| Type | UAE Air Force base | ||||||||
| Owner | United Arab Emirates Armed Forces | ||||||||
| Operator | United Arab Emirates Air Force (UAEAF) | ||||||||
| Controlled by | Western Air Command | ||||||||
| Condition | Operational | ||||||||
| Location | |||||||||
  Al Dhafra AB Location in the United Arab Emirates | |||||||||
| Coordinates | 24°14′24″N054°32′54″E / 24.24000°N 54.54833°E /24.24000; 54.54833 | ||||||||
| Site history | |||||||||
| Built | 1983 (1983) | ||||||||
| In use | 1983 – present | ||||||||
| Garrison information | |||||||||
| Garrison | |||||||||
| Airfield information | |||||||||
| Identifiers | IATA: DHF,ICAO: OMAM | ||||||||
| Elevation | 23 metres (75 ft)AMSL | ||||||||
| |||||||||
| Sources: World Aero Data[1] | |||||||||
Al Dhafra Air Base (ADAB,Arabic:قاعدة الظفرة الجوية,IATA:DHF,ICAO:OMAM) is a military installation in theUnited Arab Emirates. The base is located approximately 20 mi (32 km) south ofAbu Dhabi, and is operated by theUnited Arab Emirates Air Force.
The base was attacked by theHouthis on 17 and 24 January 2022. An EmiratiTHAAD intercepted a midrange ballistic missile on January 17 and two missiles aimed at the base were intercepted and destoryed on January 24 byPatriot missiles.[2][3] The interception by the THAAD marked the system’s first known use in a military operation.[4]
The airport sits at anelevation of 77 ft (23 m) abovemean sea level. It has tworunways, 13L/31R and 13R/31L, each with anasphalt surface measuring 3,661 m × 46 m (12,011 ft × 151 ft).[1]
The air base is the headquarters of the Western Air Command of theUnited 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 theLockheed Martin F-16E/F Desert Falcon). The base is also home to the 71st and 76th Fighter Squadrons which operate theDassault Mirage 2000-9EAD/DAD.
Al Dhafra hosts theUnited States Air Force's380th Air Expeditionary Wing (380 AEW), established at the base on 25 January 2002.[5] The 380 AEW's mission is to carry out combat operations to provide high-altitude all-weather intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, airborne command and control andaerial refueling formilitary operations against ISIL/ISIS (referred to by the US military asOperation Inherent Resolve) and previously,NATO-led operations inAfghanistan (Operation Resolute Support).[5] The wing is known to have operated theF-15C Eagle,F-15E Strike Eagle,F-22A Raptor,KC-10A Extender,E-3 Sentry (AWACS)U-2S Dragon Lady andEQ-4 and RQ-4 Global Hawk.[6][7][5] The first USAFF-35 Lightning II deployed to the Middle East was deployed to Al Dhafra Air Base in April 2019.[8]
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.[9]
As of 2020, contractor activity at Al Dhafra on behalf of the US military includes work done by Abacus Technology Corp. information technology,[10] Centurum information technology,[11] in addition to various construction projects.[12]
On 1 September 2008, theFrench Air Force opened its ownmilitary settlement in the northwest corner of the base, operatingDassault Mirage 2000-5Fs.[13]
With military operations against ISIL/ISIS, the French also deployedBreguet Atlantique II maritime patrol aircraft as part ofOpération Chammal.[14]
Notable units based at Al Dhafra Air Base.
Western Air Command
(Al Dhafra 'Lieutenant-Colonel Charles Pijeaud' Air Base)
The 380th AEW is also known to operate theEQ-4B andRQ-4B Global Hawk.
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