Muwaffaq Salti Air Base
Muwaffaq Salti Air Base | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| قاعدة الشهيد موفق السلطي الجوية - الازرق | |||||||||
| Near Azraq, Zarqa Governorate in Jordan | |||||||||
|
A RJAF F-16 landing | |||||||||
  Muwaffaq Salti Air Base Shown within Jordan | |||||||||
| Coordinates | 31°50′03″N 036°47′14″E / 31.83417°N 36.78722°ECoordinates: 31°50′03″N 036°47′14″E / 31.83417°N 36.78722°E | ||||||||
| Type | Air Base | ||||||||
| Site information | |||||||||
| Owner | Jordanian Armed Forces | ||||||||
| Operator | Royal Jordanian Air Force | ||||||||
| Website | Muwaffaq Salti Airbase | ||||||||
| Site history | |||||||||
| Built | 1918 & 1976-1980 | ||||||||
| In use | 1918 & 1981-present | ||||||||
| Airfield information | |||||||||
| Elevation | 519 metres (1,703 ft) AMSL | ||||||||
| |||||||||
Muwaffaq Salti Air Base (Arabic قاعدة الشهيد موفق السلطي الجوية - الازرق ) is a Royal Jordanian Air Force air base located in Azraq, Zarqa Governorate.
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's) 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 Israeli Air Force on November 13, 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.
Current use
Since 1997 No's 1 and 2 (General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon) squadrons have been based there.
Due to the military intervention against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, the Belgian Air Component and the Royal Netherlands Air Force are basing their F-16 AMLU's here.[1]
See also
References
This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the Air Force Historical Research Agency.
- ↑ AirForces Monthly. Stamford, Lincolnshire, England: Key Publishing Ltd. November 2014. p. 4.