| Al Dhafra Air Base | |
| Location: | Al Dhafra, Abu Dhabi |
| Country: | the United Arab Emirates |
| Type: | UAE Air Force base |
| Coordinates: | 24.24°N 54.5483°W |
| Pushpin Map: | UAE |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location in the United Arab Emirates |
| Pushpin Label: | Al Dhafra AB |
| Pushpin Label Position: | bottom |
| Ownership: | United Arab Emirates Armed Forces |
| Operator: | United Arab Emirates Air Force (UAEAF) |
| Controlledby: | Western Air Command |
| Used: | 1983 – present |
| Condition: | Operational |
| Garrison: |
|
| Iata: | DHF |
| Icao: | OMAM |
| Elevation: | 23m (75feet) |
| R1-Number: | 13L/31R |
| R1-Length: | 3661m (12,011feet) |
| R1-Surface: | Asphalt |
| R2-Number: | 13R/31L |
| R2-Length: | 3661m (12,011feet) |
| R2-Surface: | Asphalt |
| Footnotes: | Sources: World Aero Data[1] |
Al Dhafra Air Base (Arabic: قاعدة الظفرة الجوية) is a military installation in the United Arab Emirates. The base is located approximately 20miles south of Abu Dhabi, and is operated by the United Arab Emirates Air Force.
The airport sits at an elevation of 77feet above mean sea level. It has two runways, 13L/31R and 13R/31L, each with an asphalt surface measuring 3661x.
The air base is the headquarters of the Western Air Command of the United 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 the Lockheed Martin F-16E/F Desert Falcon). The base is also home to the 71st and 76th Fighter Squadrons which operate the Dassault Mirage 2000-9EAD/DAD.
Al Dhafra hosts the United States Air Force's 380th Air Expeditionary Wing (380 AEW), established at the base on 25 January 2002.[2] The 380 AEW's mission is to carry out combat operations to provide high-altitude all-weather intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, airborne command and control and aerial refueling for military operations against ISIL/ISIS (referred to by the US military as Operation Inherent Resolve) and previously, NATO-led operations in Afghanistan (Operation Resolute Support). The wing is known to have operated the F-15C Eagle, F-15E Strike Eagle, F-22A Raptor, KC-10A Extender, E-3 Sentry (AWACS) U-2S Dragon Lady and EQ-4 and RQ-4 Global Hawk.[3] [4] The first USAF F-35 Lightning II deployed to the Middle East was deployed to Al Dhafra Air Base in April 2019.[5]
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.[6]
As of 2020, contractor activity at Al Dhafra on behalf of the US military includes work done by Abacus Technology Corp. information technology,[7] Centurum information technology,[8] in addition to various construction projects.[9]
On 1 September 2008, the French Air Force opened its own military settlement in the northwest corner of the base, operating Dassault Mirage 2000-5Fs.
With military operations against ISIL/ISIS, the French also deployed Breguet Atlantique II maritime patrol aircraft as part of Opération Chammal.[10]
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 the EQ-4B and RQ-4B Global Hawk.
On 24 January 2022, Al Dhafra Air Base was targeted by Houthi Zulfiqar ballistic missiles in retaliation for UAE involvement in the ongoing Yemeni Civil War. Two missiles aimed at the base were intercepted and destroyed by US Patriot missiles, coincident to efforts by the United Arab Emirates Armed Forces.[19] [20] [21]
There is a residential area where Emiratis working at the base live, along with their dependents. There is a grocery store, laundromat, barbershop, and restaurant. Due to the construction of a railway, many houses were demolished, causing a forced displacement.