Bahrain Defense Forces (BDF): Ground Force, Royal Bahraini Navy (RBN), Royal Bahraini Air Force (RBAF), Royal Bahraini Air Defense Force (RBADF)
Active 8,200 Personnel. (Army 6,000 Navy 700 Air 1,500); Paramilitary 11,260

ROYAL BAHRAINI AIR FORCE (RBAF)  • سلاح الجو الملكي البحريني
Air Force 1,500 personnel.

Forces by Role & Equipment by Type

• AIRCRAFT 33 combat capable. Total 46 Aircraft.

Fighter Ground Attack 2 sqn with 21 FGA ac:
17 Lockheed Martin F-16C Fighting Falcon Block 40;
4 Lockheed Martin F-16D Fighting Falcon Block 40;

Air Defence (Interceptor) 1 sqn with 12 Ftr ac:
8 Northrop F-5E Tiger II;
4 Northrop F-5F Tiger II;

Transport some sqn with 4 Tpt ac :
1 Boeing 727;
1 British Aerospace BAe-146-RJ85;
1 Grumman Gulfstream III (VIP);
1 Grumman Gulfstream II;

Training 2 sqn with 9 Trg ac:
Advanced Trainer & Light attack 1 sqn with 6 Adv Trg / Lt Atk ac:
6 BAe Systems Hawk Mk-129;
Basic Flying Training 1 sqn with 5 BscTrg ac:
3 Slingsby T67M-260 Firefly;


• HELICOPTER 22 Attack capable. Total 49 Helicopters.

Anti-Armour Attack 2 sqns with 22 Atk hel:
10 Bell Textron Helicopter Bell AH-1E Cobra;
6 Bell Textron Helicopter Bell AH-1F Cobra;
6 Bell Textron Helicopter Bell TAH-1P Cobra (Rotary Flying Training);

Support & VIP 1 unit with 12 Spt/ VIP hel:
9 Sikorsky S-70C / UH-60M Black Hawk;
2 Sikorsky S-70C / UH-60L Black Hawk;
1 Sikorsky S-70A / UH-60A Black Hawk;

Utility 2 sqn with 15 utl hel:
12 Agusta Bell AB-212 (Bell 212 Twin Huey);
3 MBB Bo-105C;


• MISSILES
  ASM AGM-65D/G Maverick
  ARM AS-12 Kegler
  AAM AIM-120B AMRAAM, AIM-7F Sparrow, AIM-9P Sidewinder
  ATGW some BGM-71 TOW

• LANTIRN
  3 Lockheed Martin AN/AAQ-14 Sharpshooter targeting pod


• FACILITIES
  RBAF Staff and Main Headquarters: Based at Manama Fort, near the capital.
  Royal Bahraini Air Force, Air Operations Centre, P.O. Box 245, Bahrain.
  1st Tactical Fighter Wing : Shaikh Isa AB : Bahrain Intl. Airport (Manama)

Royal Bahraini Air Force Airfields and Airbases Organisation:

Shaikh Isa Air Base: Bahrain Intl. Airport (Manama)
1 FW (1st Tactical Fighter Wing)
1st TFS - Multirole: F-16C-40/D-40
2nd TFS - Multirole/OCU: F-16C-40
6th TFS - Multirole/OCU: F-5E/F
The Training Wing
4th Squadron: T67M-260    
5th Squadron: Hawk Mk.129

Rifa'a Air Base
The Helicopter Wing
3rd Helicopter Squadron: AB212    
8th Helicopter Squadron: AH-1E/P/TAH-1P   
9th Helicopter Squadron: AH-1E/P/TAH-1P  
10th Helicopter Squadron: Bo-105C    
12th Helicopter Squadron: UH-60L/M/A

Note: Bahrain  has 4 airports with paved runways (over 3,047 m: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1) and one heliport.


Royal Bahraini Air Force Current Service Aircraft: