Ali Al Salem Air Base

Ali Al Salem Air Base
Sgt. 1st Class Suzanne Ringle · Public domain · source
Name	Ali Al Salem Air Base
Location	Kuwait
Type	Military air base
Built	1950s
Used	1950s–present
Controlledby	United States Air Force (primary tenant), Kuwait Air Force

Ali Al Salem Air Base is a strategically vital military installation located in Kuwait. It serves as a critical logistics and operational hub for the United States Air Force and the Kuwait Air Force within the Persian Gulf region. The base has played a significant role in multiple regional conflicts and international coalitions, facilitating air mobility, combat operations, and humanitarian missions. Its extensive facilities support a wide array of aircraft and host numerous U.S. and Kuwaiti military units.

History

The airfield's origins trace back to the 1950s, initially developed to support the nascent Kuwait Air Force following the country's independence from British protection. Its strategic importance was dramatically underscored during the Gulf War, when it was captured by Iraqi forces during the Invasion of Kuwait in 1990. Following its liberation by coalition forces in Operation Desert Storm, the base underwent massive expansion. It became a permanent forward operating location for the United States Central Command in the aftermath of the Iraq War and the ongoing intervention against ISIL. Throughout the War in Afghanistan, it functioned as a pivotal airbridge and aerial port of embarkation for personnel and cargo transiting the CENTCOM area.

Facilities

The base features a single primary runway capable of handling heavy cargo and military aircraft, including the C-5M Super Galaxy and C-17 Globemaster III. Its infrastructure includes extensive ammunition storage areas, fuel hydrant systems, and hardened aircraft shelters to protect assets. Support facilities encompass a large passenger terminal for the Contingency Aeromedical Staging Facility, numerous dormitories, dining halls, and recreational centers for deployed personnel. The installation also hosts a tactical operations center and modern air traffic control systems to manage the high volume of military air traffic.

Operations

Primary operations center on global air mobility and power projection missions, with the Air Mobility Command and United States Air Forces Central playing leading roles. The base is a key node for Aerial refueling operations, frequently hosting KC-135 Stratotanker and KC-10 Extender aircraft that support combat sorties across the Middle East. It also serves as a critical logistics hub for the Defense Logistics Agency, facilitating the forward movement of troops and equipment via the Civil Reserve Air Fleet. Regular exercises like Operation Inherent Resolve and Eager Lion are coordinated from here, involving partnerships with the Royal Air Force, Armée de l'Air et de l'Espace, and other NATO allies.

Role in regional conflicts

The base has been a cornerstone for every major U.S.-led operation in the region since the 1990s. During Operation Desert Fox and the enforcement of no-fly zones, it launched F-15C and F-16 combat air patrols. It was a launch point for B-1B and B-52 Stratofortress bombers during the initial phases of Operation Iraqi Freedom. In the ongoing campaign against ISIL, it has supported ISR missions flown by the U-2S and MQ-9 Reaper, and provided a staging ground for special operations forces. The base also played a humanitarian role during the Libyan evacuation and the withdrawal from Afghanistan.

Based units

Notable units operating from the installation include the **386th Air Expeditionary Wing**, which provides overarching command and control for all USAF operations. Key subordinate groups include the **386th Expeditionary Operations Group**, managing flight operations, and the **386th Expeditionary Maintenance Group**. The **387th Air Expeditionary Group** oversees airfield services and base defense. The Kuwait Air Force maintains a presence with elements of its 41st Squadron flying F/A-18C/D aircraft. Other transient units regularly include the Royal Australian Air Force, U.S. Army aviation elements, and detachments from the United States Marine Corps.

Category:Airports in Kuwait Category:United States Air Force bases