View source for Prince Sultan Air Base

{{Short description|Military air base in Al Kharj, Saudi Arabia}}
{{more footnotes|date=December 2012}}
{{Infobox military installation
| name = Prince Sultan Air Base
| ensign = Roundel of Saudi Arabia.svg
| ensign_size = 70px
| native_name = {{lang|ar|قاعدة الأمير سلطان الجوية}}
| partof = <!-- for elements within a larger site -->
| location = [[Al-Kharj]], [[Riyadh Province]]
| nearest_town = <!-- used in military test site infobox -->
| country = [[Saudi Arabia]]
| image = File:363daew-saudi-princesltan-e3a.jpg
| alt = A US Air Force E-3 Sentry deployed to the 363rd Air Expeditionary Wing takes off from Prince Sultan AB during 2003 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
| caption = A [[United States Air Force|US Air Force]] [[Boeing E-3 Sentry|E-3 Sentry]] deployed to the [[363rd Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Wing|363rd Air Expeditionary Wing]] takes off from Prince Sultan AB during 2003 in support of [[Iraq War|Operation Iraqi Freedom]].
| image2 = [[File:Prince Sultan Air Base Emblem.svg|125px]]
| alt2 = The emblem of Prince Sultan Air Base
| caption2 = The emblem of Prince Sultan Air Base
| type = Royal Saudi Air Force base
| coordinates = {{coord|24|03|19|N|047|33|49|E|region:SA|display=inline,title}}
| gridref = 
| pushpin_map = Saudi Arabia
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in Saudi Arabia
| pushpin_label = Prince Sultan AB
| pushpin_label_position = bottom
| ownership = [[Minister of Defense (Saudi Arabia)|Ministry of Defense]]
| operator = [[Royal Saudi Air Force]]
| controlledby = <!-- such as RAF Bomber Command or the Eighth Air Force -->
| open_to_public = <!-- for out of use sites/sites with museums etc. -->
| site_other_label = <!-- for renaming "Other facilities" in infobox -->
| site_other = <!-- for other sorts of facilities – radar types etc. -->  
| site_area = <!-- area of site m2, km2 square mile etc. -->
| code = <!--facility/installation code -->
| built = {{Start date|1951}}
| used = 1951 – present <!--{{End date|1946}} -->
| builder = 
| materials = 
| height = <!-- height of tallest part, not above sea level -->
| length = <!-- for border fences or other DMZs -->
| fate = <!--changed from demolished parameter-->
| condition = 
| battles = 
| events = 
| current_commander = <!-- current commander -->
| past_commanders = <!-- past notable commander(s) -->
| garrison = *Wing 6 (Royal Saudi Air Force)
*[[378th Air Expeditionary Wing]] ([[United States Air Force|US Air Force]])
| occupants = <!-- squadrons only -->
| designations = 
| website = 
<!-- begin airfield information  -->
| IATA = AKH
| ICAO = OEPS
| FAA = 
| TC = 
| LID = 
| GPS = 
| WMO = 
| elevation = {{Convert|503.2|m|0}}
| r1-number = 17L/35R 
| r1-length = {{Convert|4,000|m|0}}
| r1-surface = [[Asphalt concrete|Asphalt]]
| r2-number = 17R/35L
| r2-length = {{Convert|4,000|m|0}}
| r2-surface = Asphalt
| h1-number = 
| h1-length = <!-- {{Convert| |m|0}} -->
| h1-surface = 
| airfield_other_label = <!-- for renaming "Other facilities" in infobox -->
| airfield_other = <!-- for other sorts of airfield facilities -->
<!--  end airfield information   -->
| footnotes = '''Sources:''' World Aero Data<ref name="WAD">{{usurped|1=[https://archive.today/20130217013748/http://www.worldaerodata.com/wad.cgi?airport=OEPS Airport information for OEPS]}} from [[DAFIF]] (effective October 2006)</ref><ref name="GCM">{{GCM|AKH|source=DAFIF}}</ref>
}}

'''Prince Sultan Air Base''' ('''PSAB''', {{langx|ar|قاعدة الأمير سلطان الجوية}}, {{airport codes|AKH<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.iata.org/publications/Pages/code-search.aspx | title = Airline and Airport Code Search (AKH: Prince Sultan AB, Al Kharj) | publisher = [[International Air Transport Association]] (IATA) | access-date = 29 September 2012}}</ref>|OEPS|p=n}}) is a [[military air base]] located in the [[Closed city#Saudi_Arabia|closed city]] of [[Al Kharj]], [[Saudi Arabia]].<ref name="WAD" />

==History==

There was a large [[United States]] presence there during [[Operation Southern Watch|Operations Southern Watch]], [[Operation Enduring Freedom|Enduring Freedom]] and [[Operation Iraqi Freedom|Iraqi Freedom]].  The U.S. presence was predominantly that of multiple [[United States Air Force]] (USAF) flying units, augmented by a [[United States Navy]] (USN) or [[United States Marine Corps]] (USMC) [[Northrop Grumman EA-6B Prowler]] squadron, a [[Royal Air Force]] (RAF) fighter squadron with [[Panavia Tornado]] F.3s and a [[French Air Force]] fighter squadron with [[Dassault Mirage 2000]]s, [[Mirage F1 CR]] plus a [[Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker|Boeing C-135RF Stratotanker]] air refueling aircraft.  Following the attack on USAF facilities at [[Khobar Towers]] in Dharan in 1996, all USAF activities at that location were relocated to PSAB.
[[File:363d-f-15-princesultan.jpg|thumb|left|An [[Air National Guard]] F-15C Eagle fighter taking off from Prince Sultan Air Base in 2000]]

Before the [[September 11 attacks]], per agreement with the Saudi Arabian government, all U.S. and Allied aircraft stationed at PSAB were to be of a "defensive" versus "offensive" nature.  This was due to Arab sensitivities that non-[[Royal Saudi Air Force]] (RSAF) aircraft in the Kingdom of [[Saudi Arabia]] should be perceived as being there for the defense of the Kingdom.

During [[Operation Southern Watch]], this required aircraft carrying offensive strike ordnance for use against ground targets in Iraq to be stationed in Kuwait or aboard aircraft carriers in the Persian Gulf.  [[United States Air Force]], [[United States Navy]], [[United States Marine Corps]], [[Royal Air Force]], and [[French Air and Space Force|French Air Force]] aircraft that were based at PSAB primarily consisted of [[Airborne early warning and control|airborne early warning]], [[Reconnaissance aircraft|reconnaissance]], [[Aerial refueling|air refueling]], [[Electronic-warfare aircraft|electronic warfare]], [[Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses|suppression of enemy air defenses]] (SEAD) and [[Fighter aircraft|air-to-air fighter aircraft]], along with transient airlift aircraft.  U.S. squadrons came under the operational control of the, formerly [[4404th Wing (Provisional)]], [[363rd Air Expeditionary Wing]] (363 AEW) at PSAB, with associated squadrons or detachments prior to 11 Sep 2001 rotated in and out from their home bases in Europe, the United States or the Pacific on a 90-day to 6-month basis.  During Operation Southern Watch, in addition to Active Component aircraft, the USAF made extensive use of [[Air National Guard]] (ANG) and [[Air Force Reserve Command]] (AFRC) [[McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle]], [[General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon]] and [[Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker]] aircraft and associated personnel on rotational assignments to PSAB.  The United States Navy, Navy Reserve and United States Marine Corps also employed EA-6B aircraft from PSAB as well.

In August and early September 1998, [[Joint Task Force Southwest Asia]] (JTF-SWA) and its associated Coalition Air Operations Center (CAOC) were in the process of relocating from the [[Eskan Village]] complex in Riyadh to PSAB concurrent with construction of a more modern and expanded CAOC at PSAB. The 1996 [[Khobar Towers bombing]] accelerated this movement, so that subsequent command and control of all Coalition air operations for Operations [[Enduring Freedom]] and [[Iraqi Freedom]] were executed from PSAB, before 11 September 2001. 

During the [[War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)|War in Afghanistan]], the Saudi government refused to allow the United States to use its air bases in Saudi Arabia to launch offensive air operations against the [[Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (1996–2001)|Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan]] and [[al-Qaeda]], but did allow them to use Prince Sultan Air Base to coordinate offensive air operations of air combat operations launched from other countries.<ref>{{Citation|last=Blanchette|first=Nicholas|title=Operation Enduring Freedom: Evaluating the Effectiveness of Air Power over Afghanistan|date=2021-12-16|url=https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/9781108985024%23CN-bp-5/type/book_part|work=Air Power in the Age of Primacy|pages=97–120|editor-last=Haun|editor-first=Phil|edition=1|publisher=Cambridge University Press|doi=10.1017/9781108985024.006|isbn=978-1-108-98502-4|access-date=2022-02-02|editor2-last=Jackson|editor2-first=Colin|editor3-last=Schultz|editor3-first=Tim|url-access=subscription}}</ref> In mid-2003, all U.S. operations at PSAB began migrating to [[Al Udeid Air Base]] in [[Doha]], [[Qatar]]. [[File:Secretary Pompeo Visits Prince Sultan Air Base and Meets with U.S. Service Members (49563638153).jpg|left|thumb|[[MIM-104 Patriot|Patriot missile batteries]] located at Prince Sultan Air Base in 2020.]]
Between 2003 and 2005 [[Vickers VC10]]s from [[No. 101 Squadron RAF]] were based here in support of [[Operation Telic]] before moving to RAF Al Udeid (a section of the Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar).<ref>{{cite journal |title=19 Years Over Iraq |page=11 |journal=The Official RAF Annual Review 2010 |location=[[Stamford, Lincolnshire|Stamford]] | publisher=[[Key Publishing]] |date=December 2010 }}</ref>

In October 2019, 2,000 U.S. troops joined approximately 700 service members already stationed at the air base,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/pentagon-to-deploy-around-2-000-additional-troops-to-saudi-arabia-11570809038?mod=article_inline|title=Pentagon to Deploy Around 2,000 Additional Troops to Saudi Arabia|website=The Wall Street Journal|date=11 October 2019}}</ref> along with deploying [[Rockwell B-1 Lancer|B-1B bombers]], [[Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor|F-22 Raptor stealth fighters]] and [[MIM-104 Patriot|Patriot missile batteries]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/30664/air-force-sends-b-1b-bombers-to-saudi-arabia-amid-u-s-military-buildup-in-the-kingdom|title=Air Force Sends B-1B Bombers To Saudi Arabia Amid U.S. Military Buildup In The Kingdom|website=The Drive|date=25 October 2019}}</ref> The new troop buildup followed several attacks on oil tankers by [[Iran]] in the [[Gulf of Oman]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/esper-tours-saudi-military-site-as-u-s-readies-troop-buildup-11571772446|title=Esper Tours Saudi Military Site as U.S. Readies Troop Buildup|website=The Wall Street Journal|date=22 October 2019}}</ref>

The [[378th Air Expeditionary Wing]] was activated at Prince Sultan on 17 December 2019, with the Air Force stating the wing's mission is to 'provide strategic depth and increased defensive support while sustaining regional presence to promote peace through deterrence'.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.afcent.af.mil/Units/378th-Air-Expeditionary-Wing/News/Article/2047928/378th-aew-officially-activates-at-psab/|title=378th AEW officially activates at PSAB|last=Sims|first=Senior Airman Giovanni|date=17 December 2019|website=US Air Forces Central Command|publisher=US Air Force|language=en-US|access-date=6 January 2019}}</ref>

==Current use==

* RSAF Wing 6:<ref name=Scram2025>{{cite web|url=https://www.scramble.nl/planning/orbats/saudi-arabia/royal-saudi-air-force#OEPS368|title=Royal Saudi Air Force - Al Kharj/Prince Sultan Air Base (OEPS) |publisher=Scramble.nl|access-date=25 February 2025}}</ref>
** [[No. 17 Squadron RSAF|No. 17 OCU Squadron RSAF]]
** [[No. 18 Squadron RSAF]] with the [[Boeing E-3 Sentry|Boeing E-3A Sentry]] [[Airborne Early Warning and Control|Airborne Warning and Control System]] (AWACS) [[surveillance aircraft]].
** [[No. 19 Squadron RSAF]] with the [[Beechcraft Super King Air|Beech Model 350i Super King Air]] and the [[Boeing 707|Boeing RE-3A/B]] signals intelligence aircraft
* RSAF Wing 4:<ref name=Scram2025/>
** [[No. 23 Squadron RSAF]] with the [[Boeing 707|Boeing KE-3A]] airborne refueller
** [[No. 24 Squadron RSAF]] with the [[Airbus A330 MRTT|Airbus A330-203/243 MRTT]] 
** [[No. 32 Squadron RSAF]] with the [[Lockheed Martin KC-130|Lockheed KC-130H Hercules]] & KC-130J
* RSAF Wing 14:<ref name=Scram2025/>
** [[No. 41 Squadron RSAF]] with the [[Beechcraft Super King Air|Beech Model 350i Super King Air]]
** [[No. 50 Squadron RSAF]] with the [[Beechcraft Super King Air|Beech Model 350i Super King Air]]
** [[No. 60 Squadron RSAF]] with the [[Saab 2000 AEW&C]]

==Facilities==
The air base resides at an [[elevation]] of {{convert|1651|ft|0}} above [[mean sea level]]. It has two [[runway]]s designated 17L/R/35L/R with an [[Asphalt concrete|asphalt]] surface measuring {{convert|4000|x|45|m|0}}.<ref name="WAD" />

The base currently uses hundreds of tents as temporary housing, though there are plans to have the tents replaced with trailers and more permanent structures.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.militarytimes.com/news/your-military/2020/01/29/us-expands-troop-fighter-jet-presence-at-saudi-base/ |quote=Right now, the large white tents that flap in the stiff winds give a temporary feel to the mission. But according to Air Force Col. Jason King, vice commander of the 378th Air Expeditionary Wing here, there is “prudent planning” underway that could lead to the tents being replaced with trailers and other more permanent structures. |title=US expands troop, fighter jet presence at Saudi base |newspaper=[[Military Times]] |first=Lolita C. |last=Baldor |date=January 29, 2020}}</ref>

The US Air Force {{ Visible anchor | 378th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron }} is responsible for [[pest management]] on the base.<ref name="Keeping-the-peace-from-the-shadows">{{cite web | access-date=2022-09-13 | website=[[Defense Visual Information Distribution Service]] (DVIDS) | title=Keeping the peace from the shadows | url=https://www.dvidshub.net/news/420965/keeping-peace-shadows}}</ref>

== See also ==
{{Portal|Saudi Arabia}}
* [[List of military installations in Saudi Arabia]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Prince Sultan Air Base}}
* [http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/facility/prince-sultan.htm Prince Sultan Air Base] at GlobalSecurity.org
* [http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2003/iraq/forces/coalition/deployment/air.force/sultan.html Prince Sultan Air Base] at [[CNN]]
* [https://www.afcent.af.mil/Units/378th-Air-Expeditionary-Wing Prince Sultan Air Base] at [[United States Air Forces Central|AFCENT]]
* [https://www.dvidshub.net/unit/378AEW Prince Sultan Air Base] at Defense Visual Information Distribution hub

{{Saudi Arabia–United States relations}}
{{authority control}}

[[Category:Airports in Saudi Arabia]]
[[Category:Royal Saudi Air Force]]
[[Category:Military installations of Saudi Arabia]]
[[Category:Installations of the United States Air Force in Saudi Arabia]]