Введение
В 1985 году Бахрейн приобрел свои первые истребители F-5 и создал 6-ю истребительную эскадрилью на авиабазе Мухаррак. После того, как экипажи ВВС Бахрейна ознакомились с F-5, они прошли обучение для подготовки к использованию F-16 Fighting Falcon. Первые бахрейнские F-16, модификации F-16C/D, были приобретены в 1990 году. До этого страна рассматривала несколько передовых американских и европейских истребителей, включая F-15 Eagle, F-16 Fighting Falcon, F/A-18 Hornet, Mirage 2000 и Tornado. Бахрейнские пилоты прошли подготовку по эксплуатации F-16 на авиабазе МакДилл во Флориде в 1989 году, а первый F-16 был официально передан BAAF в марте того же года. Первые четыре F-16 были доставлены в Бахрейн в мае 1990 года, пилотируемые бахрейнскими пилотами. Примерно в это же время было завершено строительство авиабазы Иза. Вторая партия из десяти F-16 была поставлена в 2000 году в рамках программы Peace Crown II. Новые самолеты представляли собой дальнейшее увеличение боевых возможностей ВВС, поскольку они были оснащены для применения ракеты AMRAAM, впервые использованной ВВС США в 1992 году. Вооружение класса "воздух-воздух" до войны в Персидском заливе ограничивалось ракетой AIM 9M Sidewinder и встроенной пушкой. После войны страна начала закупать более современное вооружение, включая радиолокационно-управляемую ракету AIM 7M Sparrow и навигационно-прицельный комплекс LANTIRN для оружия класса "воздух-земля", такое как бомбы с лазерным наведением GBU-10/12 и ракеты AGM-65D/G Maverick. После того, как Бахрейн стал монархией 14 февраля 2002 года, BAAF был переименован в Королевские ВВС Бахрейна. Поставки начались 1 декабря 2009 года.
In 1985 Bahrain acquired its first fighter jets, the F 5, and established the 6th Fighter Squadron at Muharraq Air Base. After Bahraini air crews became familiar with the F 5, they underwent training to prepare to use the F 16 Fighting Falcon. The first Bahraini F 16s, the F 16C/D variants, were acquired in 1990. Before this, the country considered several American and European advanced fighter aircraft, including the F 15 Eagle, F 16 Fighting Falcon, F/A 18 Hornet, Mirage 2000, and Tornado. Bahraini pilots were trained on F 16 operations at MacDill Air Force Base in Florida in 1989, and the first F 16 formally was handed over to the BAAF in March of that year. The first four F 16s were sent to Bahrain, flown by Bahraini pilots, in May 1990. Around this time the construction of Isa Air Base was complete,
A second batch of ten F 16s commenced delivery in 2000 under the Peace Crown II program. The new aircraft represented a further increase in the air force's combat capabilities, as they were equipped to carry the AMRAAM missile, first used by the USAF in 1992. Air to air armament had been limited to the short range AIM 9M Sidewinder missile and internal cannon through the Gulf War. After the war, the country began to acquire more advanced weapons, including the AIM 7M Sparrow radar guided air to air missile and LANTIRN navigation and targeting pod for air to ground weapons that would also be acquired such as the GBU 10/12 laser guided bombs and AGM 65D/G Maverick air to ground missiles. After Bahrain became a monarchy on 14 February 2002, the BAAF was renamed the Royal Bahraini Air Force. Deliveries commenced on 1 December 2009
A single Sikorsky S 92 VVIP helicopter was purchased by the Air Force in 2007 and placed in service with the Bahrain Royal Flight. Bahrain would again engage in combat operations as part of the Saudi Arabia led Operation Decisive Storm, operating from bases in Saudi Arabia against Houthi rebel forces in Yemen during March and April 2015. Initially, fifteen F 16 aircraft were deployed as the RBAF contribution to combat forces in the operation. Bahrain's forces remained in Saudi Arabia in assistance of the coalition through 2015. An RBAF F 16 was lost when it crashed after a technical problem in December 2015. The Bahraini Air Force ended its participation in the operation in Yemen in February 2016. In 2018, Lockheed Martin was awarded a $1.1 billion contract to produce 16 F 16 Viper Block 70 fighter aircraft for Bahrain, the U. S. Department of Defense said in a release. Work under the $1,124,545,002 fixed price incentive firm contract is expected to be complete by 30 September 2023, the Friday, 22 June release said. In October, the government of Bahrain announced that it had finalized a $3.8 billion deal with Lockheed for the F 16 purchase. Bahrain Royal Air Force commander Major General Shaikh Hamad bin Abdullah Al Khalifa said the Gulf state hoped the first planes will be delivered in 2021. The sale of F 16 Vipers and related equipment to Bahrain was first approved by the U. S. State Department in 2016 during the Obama administration but it was delayed over human rights concerns. President Donald Trump dropped the human rights conditions last year. The State Department then approved the sale of 19 aircraft worth $2.78 billion, and another $1.1 billion to upgrade Bahrain's existing fleet of 20 F 16s to the Viper configuration in September 2017. The proposed sales also include additional equipment and support. Hamid said in October that the purchase of the other three aircraft was still a possibility.
В 2007 году ВВС приобрели один вертолет Sikorsky S-92 VVIP и ввели его в эксплуатацию в составе Королевского авиационного отряда Бахрейна. Бахрейн вновь принял участие в боевых действиях в рамках операции "Решительный шторм" под руководством Саудовской Аравии, действуя с баз в Саудовской Аравии против сил йеменских повстанцев-хуситов в марте и апреле 2015 года. Первоначально в операции было развернуто пятнадцать самолетов F-16 в качестве вклада RBAF в боевые силы. Силы Бахрейна оставались в Саудовской Аравии в поддержку коалиции в течение 2015 года. Один самолет F-16 RBAF был потерян в декабре 2015 года из-за технической неисправности. В феврале 2016 года Королевские ВВС Бахрейна завершили участие в операции в Йемене. В 2018 году компания Lockheed Martin получила контракт на 1,1 миллиарда долларов на производство 16 истребителей F-16 Viper Block 70 для Бахрейна, как сообщило Министерство обороны США. Работы по контракту с фиксированной ценой в размере 1 124 545 002 долларов США должны быть завершены к 30 сентября 2023 года, как указано в сообщении от 22 июня. В октябре правительство Бахрейна объявило о заключении сделки с Lockheed на сумму 3,8 миллиарда долларов на покупку F-16. Командующий Королевскими ВВС Бахрейна генерал-майор Шейх Хамад бин Абдулла Аль-Халифа выразил надежду, что первые самолеты будут поставлены в 2021 году. Продажа F-16 Vipers и сопутствующего оборудования Бахрейну была впервые одобрена Государственным департаментом США в 2016 году во время администрации Обамы, но была отложена из-за опасений по поводу прав человека. Президент Дональд Трамп отменил условия, связанные с правами человека, в прошлом году. Затем Государственный департамент одобрил продажу 19 самолетов на сумму 2,78 миллиарда долларов и еще 1,1 миллиарда долларов на модернизацию существующего парка из 20 F-16 до конфигурации Viper в сентябре 2017 года. Предлагаемая продажа также включает дополнительное оборудование и поддержку. Хамид заявил в октябре, что покупка остальных трех самолетов все еще возможна.
In 1985 Bahrain acquired its first fighter jets, the F 5, and established the 6th Fighter Squadron at Muharraq Air Base. After Bahraini air crews became familiar with the F 5, they underwent training to prepare to use the F 16 Fighting Falcon. The first Bahraini F 16s, the F 16C/D variants, were acquired in 1990. Before this, the country considered several American and European advanced fighter aircraft, including the F 15 Eagle, F 16 Fighting Falcon, F/A 18 Hornet, Mirage 2000, and Tornado. Bahraini pilots were trained on F 16 operations at MacDill Air Force Base in Florida in 1989, and the first F 16 formally was handed over to the BAAF in March of that year. The first four F 16s were sent to Bahrain, flown by Bahraini pilots, in May 1990. Around this time the construction of Isa Air Base was complete,
A second batch of ten F 16s commenced delivery in 2000 under the Peace Crown II program. The new aircraft represented a further increase in the air force's combat capabilities, as they were equipped to carry the AMRAAM missile, first used by the USAF in 1992. Air to air armament had been limited to the short range AIM 9M Sidewinder missile and internal cannon through the Gulf War. After the war, the country began to acquire more advanced weapons, including the AIM 7M Sparrow radar guided air to air missile and LANTIRN navigation and targeting pod for air to ground weapons that would also be acquired such as the GBU 10/12 laser guided bombs and AGM 65D/G Maverick air to ground missiles. After Bahrain became a monarchy on 14 February 2002, the BAAF was renamed the Royal Bahraini Air Force. Deliveries commenced on 1 December 2009
A single Sikorsky S 92 VVIP helicopter was purchased by the Air Force in 2007 and placed in service with the Bahrain Royal Flight. Bahrain would again engage in combat operations as part of the Saudi Arabia led Operation Decisive Storm, operating from bases in Saudi Arabia against Houthi rebel forces in Yemen during March and April 2015. Initially, fifteen F 16 aircraft were deployed as the RBAF contribution to combat forces in the operation. Bahrain's forces remained in Saudi Arabia in assistance of the coalition through 2015. An RBAF F 16 was lost when it crashed after a technical problem in December 2015. The Bahraini Air Force ended its participation in the operation in Yemen in February 2016. In 2018, Lockheed Martin was awarded a $1.1 billion contract to produce 16 F 16 Viper Block 70 fighter aircraft for Bahrain, the U. S. Department of Defense said in a release. Work under the $1,124,545,002 fixed price incentive firm contract is expected to be complete by 30 September 2023, the Friday, 22 June release said. In October, the government of Bahrain announced that it had finalized a $3.8 billion deal with Lockheed for the F 16 purchase. Bahrain Royal Air Force commander Major General Shaikh Hamad bin Abdullah Al Khalifa said the Gulf state hoped the first planes will be delivered in 2021. The sale of F 16 Vipers and related equipment to Bahrain was first approved by the U. S. State Department in 2016 during the Obama administration but it was delayed over human rights concerns. President Donald Trump dropped the human rights conditions last year. The State Department then approved the sale of 19 aircraft worth $2.78 billion, and another $1.1 billion to upgrade Bahrain's existing fleet of 20 F 16s to the Viper configuration in September 2017. The proposed sales also include additional equipment and support. Hamid said in October that the purchase of the other three aircraft was still a possibility.
Персонал
В 1992 году в военно-воздушных силах служило 650 человек, а в 2009 году – 1500.