Ali Al Salem Air Base: Difference between revisions

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	{{refimprove\|date=January 2013}}		{{refimprove\|date=January 2013}}
	{{Infobox ~~airport~~		{{Infobox military installation
	\| name = Ali Al Salem Air Base		\| name = Ali Al Salem Air Base
		⚫	\| ensign =
⚫	\| ~~nativename-a~~ = قاعدة علي السالم الجوية
			\| ensign_size =
	\| image = Ali al Salem Welcome.JPG
		⚫	\| native_name = {{lang\|ar\|قاعدة علي السالم الجوية}}
	\| caption = Entrance to the US Air Force side
			\| partof = <!-- for elements within a larger site -->
		⚫	\| location = ]
			\| nearest_town = <!-- used in military test site infobox -->
		⚫	\| country = ]
			\| image = File:Kuwait AS332, Super Puma, helicopter.jpg
			\| alt = A Kuwait Air Force Eurocopter AS-332M Super Puma of the 32nd Helicopter Squadron based at Ali Al Salem AB.
			\| caption = A ] ] of the 32nd Helicopter Squadron based at Ali Al Salem AB.
			\| image2 = <!--secondary image, major command emblems for airfields -->
		⚫	\| alt2 =
			\| caption2 =
			\| type = Kuwait Air Force base
		⚫	\| coordinates = {{coord\|29\|20\|48\|N\|47\|31\|14\|E\|region:KW\|display=inline,title}}
		⚫	\| gridref =
			\| image_map =
			\| image_mapsize =
			\| image_map_alt =
			\| image_map_caption =
		⚫	\| pushpin_map = Kuwait
		⚫	\| pushpin_mapsize =
			\| pushpin_map_alt =
		⚫	\| pushpin_map_caption = Location in Kuwait
			\| pushpin_relief =
			\| pushpin_image =
		⚫	\| pushpin_label = Ali Al Salem AB
			\| pushpin_label_position = top
			\| pushpin_mark =
			\| pushpin_marksize =
			\| ownership = ]
		⚫	\| operator = ]
			\| controlledby = <!-- such as RAF Bomber Command or the Eighth Air Force -->
			\| open_to_public = <!-- for out of use sites/sites with museums etc -->
			\| site_other_label = <!-- for renaming "Other facilities" in infobox -->
			\| site_other = <!-- for other sorts of facilities – radar types etc -->
			\| site_area = <!-- area of site m2, km2 square mile etc -->
			\| code = <!--facility/installation code, applies to US -->
			\| built = <!-- {{Start date\|YYYY}} -->
			\| used = <!--{{End date\|1946}} -->
			\| builder =
			\| materials =
			\| height = <!-- height of tallest part, not above sea level -->
			\| length = <!-- for border fences or other DMZs -->
			\| fate = <!--changed from demolished parameter-->
			\| condition = Operational
			\| battles =
			\| events =
			\| current_commander = <!-- current commander -->
			\| past_commanders = <!-- past notable commander(s) -->
			\| garrison = *Flight Training School and Helicopter Squadrons (])
			*] (])
			\| occupants = <!-- squadrons only -->
			\| designations =
			\| website =
			<!-- begin airfield information -->
	\| IATA =		\| IATA =
	\| ICAO = OKAS		\| ICAO = OKAS
			\| FAA =
⚫	\|pushpin_map= Kuwait
			\| TC =
⚫	\|pushpin_mapsize=~~220~~
			\| LID =
	\|pushpin_mark=Airplane_silhouette.svg
			\| GPS =
⚫	\|pushpin_label=~~OKAS~~
			\| WMO =
⚫	\| pushpin_map_caption = Location ~~of airport~~ in Kuwait
		⚫	\| elevation = {{Convert\|144\|m\|0}}
	\| type = ]
		⚫	\| r1-number = 12L/30R
⚫	\| ~~owner~~ = ]
		⚫	\| r1-length = {{Convert\|2,989\|m\|0}}
⚫	\| operator = ]<br>]
⚫	\| location = ]
⚫	\| ~~built~~ =
⚫	\| ~~used~~ =
	\| commander =
	\| occupants =
	\| elevation-f = 472
⚫	\| elevation-m = 144
⚫	\|coordinates = {{coord\|29\|20\|48\|N\|47\|31\|14\|E\|region:KW\|display=inline,title}}
⚫	\| ~~website~~ =
	\| metric-rwy = y
⚫	\| r1-number = ~~12R~~/~~30L~~
⚫	\| r1-length-m = 2,989
	\| r1-length-f = 9,805
	\| r1-surface = ]/]		\| r1-surface = ]/]
	\| r2-number = ~~12L~~/~~30R~~		\| r2-number = 12R/30L
	\| r2-length-m = 2,989		\| r2-length = {{Convert\|2,989\|m\|0}}
	\| r2-length-f = 9,805
	\| r2-surface = Concrete/Asphalt		\| r2-surface = Concrete/Asphalt
			\| h1-number =
⚫	\| footnotes = Sources:<ref name="WAD">{{cite web\|url=http://www.worldaerodata.com/wad.cgi?airport=OKAS \|title=Ali Al Salem Ab - Okas \|publisher=World Aero Data \|date= \|accessdate=2015-11-11}}</ref>
			\| h1-length = <!-- {{Convert\| \|m\|0}} -->
			\| h1-surface =
			\| airfield_other_label = <!-- for renaming "Other facilities" in infobox -->
			\| airfield_other = <!-- for other sorts of airfield facilities -->
			<!-- end airfield information -->
		⚫	\| footnotes = '''Sources:'''World Aero Data<ref name="WAD">{{cite web\|url=http://www.worldaerodata.com/wad.cgi?airport=OKAS \|title=Ali Al Salem Ab - Okas \|publisher=World Aero Data \|date= \|accessdate=2015-11-11}}</ref>
	}}		}}

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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.

Ali Al Salem ABLocation in Kuwait

Coordinates

29°20′48″N 47°31′14″E / 29.34667°N 47.52056°E / 29.34667; 47.52056

Type

Kuwait Air Force base

Site information

Owner

Ministry of Defense

Operator

Kuwait Air Force

Condition

Operational

Garrison information

Garrison

Flight Training School and Helicopter Squadrons (Kuwait Air Force)
386th Air Expeditionary Wing (US Air Force)

Airfield information

Identifiers

ICAO: OKAS

Elevation

144 metres (472 ft) 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

Ali Al Salem Air Base (ICAO: OKAS) is a military air base situated in Kuwait, approximately 23 miles from the Iraqi border. The airfield is owned by the Government of Kuwait, and during Operation Southern Watch, Operation Iraqi Freedom, Royal Air Force (RAF) during Operation Telic, United States Air Force (USAF), and United States Marine Corps (USMC) personnel and aircraft. Since 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).

Recent history

Significant bomb damage to a 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.

In 1990, the base was the last to be overrun during the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait. On August 3, Ali Al Salem was the only air base not occupied by Iraq. A small number of Kuwaiti regulars, staff officers, and the base general stayed to fight and organize resupply missions from Saudi Arabia. By the end of the day, Ali Al Salem had been overrun. Upon discovery by the Iraqi military, the Kuwaiti General was hanged from the base flagpole by Iraqi troops. 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. While no longer used, the building and bullet holes remain.

Kuwait Air Force Use

The Kuwait Air Force Flight Training School is located at Ali Al Salem Air Base and it is the home base of following squadrons:

12th Training Sqd BAE Hawk Mk.64
19th Training Sqd Shorts Tucano Mk.52
88th Training Sqd Aérospatiale SA-342K Gazelle
62nd Helicopter Sqd Aérospatiale SA-330H Puma
32nd Helicopter Sqd Eurocopter AS-332M Super Puma
33rd Helicopter Sqd Aérospatiale SA-342K Gazelle
17th ″Night wolf″ Attack Sqd AH-64D Longbow Apache
20th "The Dark Knights" Attack Sqd AH-64D Longbow Apache

Royal Air Force Use

The Royal Air Force operated out of AAS from early 1998, just before Operation Desert Fox. The RAF detachment consisted of various non-formed units, and a rotating Squadron of Panavia Tornado GR1s and later Tornado GR4s. The base was rapidly expanded in early 2003 to base the Joint Helicopter Command assets prior to start of 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.

Current status

Further information: Military intervention against ISIL order of battle

The base currently hosts several military units besides the Kuwaiti Air Force mainly 386th AEW USAF.

Facilities

The airport resides at an elevation of 472 feet (144 m) above 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).

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 is scheduled for completion in the second half of 2020, with the delivery of the 22 Eurofighters to follow in late 2020.

References

^ "Ali Al Salem Ab - Okas". World Aero Data. Retrieved 2015-11-11.
^ "Ali Al Salem Air Base in Kuwait City, Kuwait". MilitaryBases.com. Retrieved 20 November 2015.

Category:

Airports in Kuwait

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