King Khalid Air Base
| King Khalid Air Base | |
|---|---|
| Khamis Mushait, 'Asir Region in Saudi Arabia | |
 | |
  King Khalid Air Base Shown within Saudi Arabia | |
| Coordinates | 18°18′25″N 42°48′33″E / 18.30694°N 42.80917°ECoordinates: 18°18′25″N 42°48′33″E / 18.30694°N 42.80917°E |
| Type | Air Base |
| Site information | |
| Owner | Royal Saudi Arabian Armed Forces |
| Operator | Royal Saudi Air Force |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1960 |
| In use | 1960-present |
| Garrison information | |
| Garrison | RSAF Wing 5 |
| Airfield information | |
| Identifiers | IATA: KMX, ICAO: OEKM |
| Elevation | 2,050 metres (6,726 ft) AMSL |
King Khalid Air Base is an airbase of Royal Saudi Air Force (RSAF) sited in the south-west of Saudi Arabia, near Khamis Mushait.
History
The airbase, with code KMX, has a 12,400 ft (3,780 m) paved runway without customs facilities. The base was designed and built by the Dutch company Ballast Nedam for BAE in the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s, and has McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle service facilities.[1]
Gulf war
During the Gulf War in 1991, the USAF had a base here from which they launched bombers on Baghdad, Iraq.[2] On the opening night of the war Vickers VC10 tankers from No. 101 Squadron RAF launched here refueled Royal Air Force Panavia Tornado GR1s.[3]
Saudi Arabian-led intervention in Yemen
In June 2015 lieutenant general and commander of the Royal Saudi Air Force Muhammad Al Shaalan was killed by a missile strike that was launched by the Houthis.
Current use
- RSAF Wing 5:[4]
- No. 6 Squadron RSAF with McDonnell Douglas F-15S Strike Eagles
- No. 15 Squadron RSAF with the Northrop F-5E/F
- No. 55 Squadron RSAF with F-15S Strike Eagles
- No. 99 Squadron RSAF with the Eurocopter AS532M Cougar
- No. 14 Squadron RSAF Detachment with the Bell 412EP
See also
References
- ↑ Cordesman, Anthony H.; Al-Rodhan, Khalid R. (2007). Gulf Military Forces in an Era of Asymmetric Wars. Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 216. ISBN 978-0-275-99399-3. Retrieved 27 August 2012.
- ↑ Ham, Anthony; Shams, Martha Brekhus; Madden, Andrew (15 September 2004). Saudi Arabia. Lonely Planet. p. 134. ISBN 978-1-74059-667-1. Retrieved 27 August 2012.
- ↑ "19 Years Over Iraq". The Official RAF Annual Review 2010. Stamford: Key Publishing: 8. December 2010.
- ↑ "Royal Saudi Air Force - Khamis Mushayt (King Khalid Air Base) (OEKM)". Scramble.nl. Retrieved 8 July 2014.