United Arab Emirates Air Force

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United Arab Emirates Air Force
F-16e block60.jpg
UAEAF F-16E Desert Falcon taking off from the Lockheed Martin plant in Fort Worth, Texas. The United Arab Emirates is the only operator of the F-16E/F.
Founded 1972
Country United Arab Emirates United Arab Emirates
Allegiance Military of the United Arab Emirates
Size ~4,000 personnel
368 aircraft[1]
Insignia
Roundel Arab Emirates AF roundel.svg
Aircraft flown
Attack AH-64D, UH-60M, Alenia Aermacchi M-346
Fighter F-16E/F, Mirage 2000/2000-9
Patrol AS 550, AS 565
Reconnaissance Dash 8MMA, CN-235MPA
Trainer Hawk, MB-339, PC-7, G 115, AS 350, Alenia Aermacchi M-346
Transport C-130, CH-47, Puma, Super Puma, Bell 214, Bell 412, CN-235, Cessna 208, AS 365, C-130J Super Hercules, C-17 Globemaster III, Airbus A330 MRTT

The United Arab Emirates Air Force (UAEAF) is the air force of the United Arab Emirates. Its predecessor formation was established in 1968 when the Emirates were still under British rule and since then saw a continual reorganization and expansion in terms of both capability and aircraft numbers. Currently there are five main air bases operational, split between the Western and Central Air Command. The Special Operations Command is also existent having its own airbase and operating a wide range of helicopters.

The air force currently has a personnel number of 4,000 and operates approximately 450 fixed and rotary wing aircraft.

Contents

[edit] History

The UAE Air Force history starts in 1968 when the Abu Dhabi Army Air Force was formed during the British rule. After becoming the Abu Dhabi Air Force in 1972, major investments assured an expansion in terms of capabilities, quality and quantity of aircraft.[2] The neighbouring Emirate of Dubai had also maintained its own air component, the Dubai Defence Force Air Wing, until 1999 when the two were effectively merged to become what is now the United Arab Emirates Air Force. Although the integration of the two independent forces had been complete, a small degree of autonomy is existent at operational command level with the Western Air Command being headquartered in Abu Dhabi and the Central Air Command located in Dubai.[2]

Since 1980s a combination of regional instability and high oil prices has resulted in an ambitious re-equipment and modernization of the UAE Air Force, with its scope being to reach a level of capability at highest NATO standards.[2]

[edit] Current state

The UAE air force consists of about 4,000 personnel.[1] 2007 marked the culmination of the largest procurement programmes ever undertaken by the UAE Air Force, with the final deliveries of the 80 F-16E/F Block 60 Desert Falcons and approximately 60 upgraded Mirage 2000-9, giving the air force a considerable multirole capability.[3] These two investments represented a total expenditure of around $10 billion, with additional money further spent on infrastructure and logistics.[2] The $6.4 billion contract with Lockheed Martin for the supply and support of the 80 F-16s was signed in March 2000, while the $3.4 billion deal for the purchase of 30 new Mirage 2000-9 and retrofitting of the 33 older UAE Mirage 2000s was signed earlier in 1998.[4] Additionally, an arms package of 160 AGM-88 HARMs, 1,000+ AGM-65 Mavericks, ~500 AIM-120 AMRAAMs, 270 AIM-9 Sidewinders and 52 AGM-84 Harpoons was purchased.[4]

After a competition between the BAE Hawk, T-50 Golden Eagle and Alenia Aermacchi M-346, the UAE Air Force announced the acquisition of 48 trainer and light attack aircraft, with the first deliveries to take place in 2012.[5] The other training types that are thought to be near replacement are the 30 Pilatus PC-7 and 5 Aermacchi MB-339, serving with the Air Academy at Al Ain.[6]

The UAE Air Force has been operating 20 IAR 330 Puma helicopters since late 1970s and recently upgraded them to the IAR-330SM standard with the work being undertaken by IAR Ghimbav in Romania in cooperation with Eurocopter.[7] These aircraft, supplemented by a further ex-South African Air Force 10 reworked SA-330s are expected to remain in service for at least 15 years.[8] Although no replacement for the Puma fleet is required in the immediate future, the force will be supplemented with 26 Sikorsky UH-60M Battlehawks, alongside 390 AGM-114N Hellfire II missiles.[9] 30 AH-64A Apache helicopters were as well modernized to AH-64D Longbow standard and a dozen Eurocopter Fennecs were recently acquired for special forces use.[6]

The most important facility of the UAE Air Force is the Al Dhafra Air Base, with almost the entire fighter aircraft fleet located there. However, in order to prevent all of the air defence and strike assets being located at a single base, a $1 billion worth completely new facility has been constructed deep in the Abu Dhabi desert.[2]


[edit] Structure

As of 2008, the structure of the United Arab Emirates Air Force is as follows:[8]

[edit] Western Air Command - HQ at Abu Dhabi

[edit] Central Air Command - HQ at Dubai

[edit] Special Operations Command - HQ at Abu Dhabi

[edit] Army Command - HQ at Abu Dhabi

  • 10th Army Aviation Brigade - Al Dhafra AB - operates AS.550C3 Fennec and AH-64A Apache

[edit] Current inventory

Aircraft Origin Type Versions In service Notes
Fighters
Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcon  United States Multirole fighter F-16E
F-16F
Total		 55
24
79[nb 1]		 1 crashed in 2006[10]
Dassault Mirage 2000  France Multirole fighter 2000EAD
2000RAD
2000DAD
2000-9
2000-9D
Total		 22
8
6
20
12
68[nb 2]		 30 new build purchased in 1998, other 33 also modernised to an unknown standard by Dassault.[3]
Close air support
Alenia Aermacchi M-346 Italy Italy Light Attack M-346 0/20[nb 3] 48 on order in total (20 in light attack configuration)[5]
Transports
Lockheed C-130 Hercules  United States Transport C-130H
C-130H-30		 6 To be replaced with C-130J-30's.[11]
CASA CN-235 Spain Spain
Indonesia Indonesia		 Transport CN-235 11[12] 4 CN-235MPA models and are operated for the United Arab Emirates Navy.[nb 4]
Cessna 208 Grand Caravan  United States Utility 208B 7[8]
Airbus A330 MRTT  European Union Aerial refueling tanker/transport A330 MRTT 0/3[nb 5] deliveries to begin in 2011[15]
Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules  United States Transport C-130J-30 0/12 ordered in 2009[11]
Boeing C-17  United States Transport C-17 0/4 ordered in 2009[11]
Piaggio P.180 Avanti  Italy Utility/VIP/MEDAVAC P.180 Avanti 0/2 ordered at the Paris Air Show 2009[16]
Helicopters
Hughes AH-64 Apache  United States Attack helicopter AH-64A
AH-64D		 30 AH-64A being converted to AH-64D "Longbow".[nb 6]
Boeing CH-47 Chinook  United States Transport helicopter CH-47C/D 12 acquired from Libya in 2003.[nb 7]
Aérospatiale SA 330 Puma  France Transport helicopter SAR 330/IAR 330SM 35[nb 8]
Eurocopter AS 550 Fennec  France Observation helicopter AS 550C3 12[8]
Eurocopter AS 332 Super Puma  France Naval helicopter AS 332 2
Bell 214 Huey Plus  United States Utility helicopter Bell 214B Huey Plus 4
Augusta-Bell AB-412  Italy Transport helicopter AB-412HP/SP 6 used for search and rescue.
Eurocopter AS 565 Panther  France Naval helicopter AS 565SB 16
Eurocopter AS 365 Dauphin  France VIP helicopter AS 365N3 1
UH-60 Black Hawk  United States Transport/Attack Helicopter UH-60M ?/40 26 Ordered in 2007, 14 more ordered in 2008.[nb 9]
Trainers
Pilatus PC-7 Turbo Trainer  Switzerland Trainer PC-7 30[6]
Grob G 115  Germany Trainer G 115 Acro 12[6]
BAE Hawk United Kingdom United Kingdom Advanced trainer Hawk Mk 61/63/102 46 To be withdrawn & replaced with the M-346.[5]
Aermacchi MB-339 Italy Italy Advanced trainer MB-339A 5 To be withdrawn & replaced with the M-346.[5]
Alenia Aermacchi M-346 Italy Italy Advanced Trainer M-346 0/20 48 on order in total (20 in trainer configuration)[5]
Eurocopter AS 350 Ecureuil  France Trainer helicopter AS 350 14
Miscellaneous
Alenia Aermacchi M-346 Italy Italy Aerobatics M-346 0/8 48 on order in total (8 for aerobatics)[5]
Bombardier Dash 8  Canada Maritime Patrol Dash-8 Q300 0/2[nb 10]
Viking Air  Canada Maritime Patrol Guardian 400 0/4

[edit] See also

[edit] Notes

Footnotes
  1. ^ Sole operator of the F-16E/F - 25 "F" Model two-seater's, 55 "E" Model single-seaters.[10]
  2. ^ EAD's are Single-seat multirole, RAD's are reconnaissance variant, DAD's are two seat trainers, 2000-9 are new builds and 9D's are new build two seaters
  3. ^ Final assembly in Abu Dhabi by Mubadala.[5]
  4. ^ The MPA's are equipped with the Thales AMASCOS 300 with Ocean Master 100 radar for surveillance, maritime patrol, anti-surface and anti-submarine warfare.[13]
  5. ^ EADS says the A330 MRTTs will be equipped with both wing-mounted hose-and-drogue pods and a centreline refuelling boom for both the probe-equipped Dassault Mirage 2000-9s & receptable-equipped Lockheed Martin F-16 Block 60s.[14]
  6. ^ Remanufacture & delivery has begun in May 2008 & will end in November 2009, with support activities continuing through November 2010.[17]
  7. ^ Upgraded in 2005 by Agusta Westland and Piaggio Aero under $72 million programme.[18]
  8. ^ 10 Planned to be donated to Lebanon and 25 scheduled to remain in service for at least 15 years.[8][19]
  9. ^ Fourteen will be the weaponized UH-60M Battlehawks and will operate alongside the Ah-64Ds.[9]
  10. ^ Ordered in early 2009 - to be built on used airframes under a $290 million contract.[20]
Citations
  1. ^ a b "Background Note: United Arab Emirates". US Department of State. http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/5444.htm#defense. Retrieved 7 September 2009. 
  2. ^ a b c d e Air Forces Monthly, p. 60.
  3. ^ a b "UAE eyes France's Rafale fighter". AFP. http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5iPXpIP5rSYIT6n2UejcGjcCIKrLg. Retrieved 7 September 2009. 
  4. ^ a b Air Forces Monthly, p. 61.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g "UAE Gives M346 a LIFT". Defense Industry Daily. http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/UAE-Gives-M346-a-LIFT-05303/. Retrieved 7 September 2009.. 
  6. ^ a b c d Air Forces Monthly, p. 62.
  7. ^ "Eurocopter Romania awaits UAE contract". Jane's Intelligence Weekly. http://www.janes.com/aerospace/military/news/jdw/jdw010622_1_n.shtml. Retrieved 7 September 2009. 
  8. ^ a b c d e Air Forces Monthly, p. 63.
  9. ^ a b "UAE Ordering Weaponized UH-60M ‘Battlehawk’ Helicopters". Defense Industry Daily. 17 September 2008. http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/UAE-Ordering-Weaponized-UH-60M-Battlehawk-Helicopters-05078/. Retrieved 7 September 2009. 
  10. ^ a b "F16 crashes in capital; no casualties". Khaleej Times. 10 January 2006. http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticle.asp?xfile=data/theuae/2006/January/theuae_January237.xml&section=theuae. Retrieved 8 September 2009. 
  11. ^ a b c "UAE Orders C-17s, C-130Js". Defense Industry Daily. 25 February 2009. http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/UAE-Orders-C-17s-C-130Js-05302/. Retrieved 8 September 2009. 
  12. ^ "EADS to sign US$140m deal with UAE". Jane's Intelligence Weekly. 18 April 2001. http://www.janes.com/aerospace/military/news/jni/jni010418_1_n.shtml. Retrieved 8 September 2009. 
  13. ^ "EADS to sign US$140m deal with UAE". UAE Interact. 11 July 2001. http://www.uaeinteract.com/docs/EADS_to_sign_US$140m_deal_with_UAE/74.htm. Retrieved 8 September 2009. 
  14. ^ "Airbus Completes A330 Tanker Deal with UAE". Defense Industry Daily. 26 February 2008. http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/Airbus-Completes-A330-Tanker-Deal-with-UAE-04756/. Retrieved 8 September 2009. 
  15. ^ "UAE signs for Airbus A330 tanker-transports". Flightglobal. 25 February 2008. http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2008/02/25/221840/uae-signs-for-airbus-a330-tanker-transports.html. Retrieved 8 September 2009. 
  16. ^ "PARIS AIR SHOW: UAE selects Piaggio Avanti for multi-utility role". Flightglobal. 15 June 2009. http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2009/06/15/327871/paris-air-show-uae-selects-piaggio-avanti-for-multi-utility.html. Retrieved 8 September 2009. 
  17. ^ "UAE’s 30-Helicopter Apache Upgrade Program Underway". Defense Industry Daily. 10 May 2009. http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/uaes-30helicopter-apache-upgrade-program-underway-02551/. Retrieved 8 September 2009. 
  18. ^ "UAE awards contracts for CH-47 upgrade". Flightglobal. 15 March 2005. http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2005/03/15/195191/uae-awards-contracts-for-ch-47-upgrade.html. Retrieved 8 September 2009. 
  19. ^ "LEBANON: UAE GIVES 10 PUMA HELICOPTERS TO ARMY". ANSAmed. 11 February 2009. http://www.ansamed.info/en/news/ME03.@AM51098.html. Retrieved 8 September 2009. 
  20. ^ "UAE adds Dash-8 Q300s for Maritime Patrol". Defense Industry Daily. 2 March 2009. http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/UAE-chooses-Dash-8-Q300s-for-Maritime-Partrol-05308/. Retrieved 8 September 2009. 

[edit] References

  • Force Report: UAE Air Force & Air Defence, Air Forces Monthly magazine, January 2008 issue.

[edit] External links

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