Muwaffaq Salti Air Base

History

In 1918, during World War I, T. E. Lawrence (also known as Lawrence of Arabia) used the historic castle in Azraq and the plains at that site as a base for use as a landing ground for the aircraft which were supporting the column pushing north towards Syria. The main qualities of the area were its good visibility and fine weather for flying.

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 Fighter) and No 11 Squadrons (F-5E/F Tiger II) were deployed there.

The air base was officially opened on 24 May 1981. It was named after Lieutenant Muwaffaq Salti who died in battle with the Israeli Air Force on 13 November 1966, during the Battle of Samou. It was initially home to Nos 1 and 25 Mirage squadrons. Between 1997 and 2007 Mirage squadrons were based here.

Between October 2014 and July 2015 the Belgian Air Component deployed six Lockheed Martin F-16AM Fighting Falcons here as well under Operation Desert Falcon (later Operation Inherent Resolve) due to the military intervention against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant.

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.

In April 2020, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Middle East District contracted American International Contractors to build infrastructure on the airbase, including aprons and taxiways, a marshaling yard facility, and support facilities and utilities. 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 releasing the solicitation to find a contractor to build a new air traffic control tower.

Current use

Since 1997 Nos 1, 2 and 6 (General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon) Squadrons have been based there.

The American Government along with other countries has deployed various aircraft there due to the military intervention against ISIL. The base is reported to host several MQ-9 Reaper drones, based on satellite imagery. The base is partly operated by the 407th Air Expeditionary Group.

Units

• 1st Fighter Squadron - F-16AM/BM MLU M2 :The 1st Squadron was formed in 1958 with Hawker Hunters. It was later equipped with F-5s, then Mirage F1s, and now the 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.

• 2nd Fighter Squadron - F-16AM/BM MLU M6.5 :The 2nd Squadron was first formed in 1958 with de Havilland Vampires, then with Hunters, and later in 1974 with F-5As and Bs as an advanced training squadron at King Hussein Air Base, Mafraq. It subsequently flew from Amman and Mafraq as a fighter squadron, then flew again from Mafraq, renamed in 1978 as the King Hussein Air College, with the CASA C-101 as 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.

• 6th Fighter Squadron - F-16AM/BM MLU M3 :The 6th Squadron is identical to the 1st Squadron in mission and equipment.

References

References

1. (2021). "DoD Flight Information Publication (Enroute) – Supplement Europe, North Africa and Middle East". [[National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency]].
2. (September 2015). "[[AirForces Monthly]]". [[Key Publishing.
3. (14 January 2019). "Docs Show US To Massively Expand Footprint At Jordanian Air Base Amid Spats With Turkey, Iraq".
4. "Contracts for April 10, 2020".
5. Binnie, Jeremy. (2021-12-01). "US carrying out major upgrade to Jordanian airbase". Janes.
6. (May 2015). "[[AirForces Monthly]]". [[Key Publishing.
7. (25 February 2016). "Reaper Drones Revealed to Be Operating from Jordan - bellingcat".
8. (December 9, 2016). "Air Force identifies airman killed by storm in Jordan". Air Force Times.
9. (December 9, 2016). "USARCENT command team travels region to focus on enduring partnership". US Army.
10. "No 1 Squadron".
11. "No 2 Squadron".
12. "No 6 Squadron".