Isa Air Base
Isa Air Base, formerly Shaikh Isa Air Base (ICAO: OBBS), is located on the island nation of Bahrain. Isa Air Base is located on the shore of the Persian Gulf in southern Bahrain.
Isa Air Base  | |||||||||||
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| Summary | |||||||||||
| Airport type | Military | ||||||||||
| Operator | Royal Bahraini Air Force | ||||||||||
| Location | Bahrain | ||||||||||
| Elevation AMSL | 136 ft / 41 m | ||||||||||
| Coordinates | 25°55′06″N 050°35′26″E | ||||||||||
| Runways | |||||||||||
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It hosts the Royal Bahraini Air Force (RBAF) Fighter Wing and the two squadrons that comprise it.
History
During the first Gulf War, some of the Coalition forces, having trouble with the Arab pronunciation, knew the base under the name "Shakey's Pizza".[2]
Current use
Bahrain
The base is home to the RBAF's 1st Fighter Wing:
- 1st Fighter Squadron – Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcon C/D Block 40
- 2nd Fighter Squadron – F-16C/D Block 40
- 6th Fighter Squadron – Northrop F-5E/F
- 5th Squadron – British Aerospace Hawk
- 4th Squadron – Slingsby T-67 Firefly
United States
In March 2009, the United States Air Force established a camp on Isa Air Base to support aerial port operations. The unit was designated a detachment of the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing of Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar. This detachment's purpose was to accelerate the delivery of mine-resistant ambush-protected all-terrain vehicles to U.S. forces in Afghanistan.
As part of its operations against ISIL, the United States has deployed various aircraft there.[3]
As of August 27, 2020, KBR is in charge of base operations support services at Isa Air Base.[4]
References
- Airport information for OBBS at World Aero Data. Data current as of October 2006.Source: DAFIF.
- Frederick Forsyth: "The Fist of God", ISBN 0-552-13990-4
- AirForces Monthly. Stamford, Lincolnshire, England: Key Publishing Ltd. May 2015. p. 59.
- "Contracts for August 27, 2020". U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE. Retrieved 2020-09-11.