Ta’if Regional Airport / Taif Air Base | military airbase

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Airport Code: OETF
Runway Length: 12254'
Runway Elevation: 4848'

The construction of Al-Taif Airport goes back to the year 1947 which witnessed in the same year the landing of the first aircraft for his Majesty King Abdulaziz.
The airport is located 30 km North-East Al-Taif mayoralty, meanwhile, it is 70 km from Makkah and 160 km form Al-Madinah.
The importance of A/P has become increasingly significant due to its location near Makkah Al-Mukkaramah and the holy places as well as the importance of Al-Taif city as one of the Kingdom's resorts.

The United States Military Training Mission (USMTM) to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is a joint training mission under the command of Headquarters, United States Central Command, (USCENTCOM) MacDill Air Force Base, Florida.
The Chief of USMTM also serves as the United States Department of Defense Representative for Saudi Arabia.
The USMTM Air Force Division has supporting detachments at Taif, Dhahran, Khamis Mushayt, and Jeddah. Personnel work directly with their RSAF Headquarters counterparts on all logistics, operational, and Foreign Military Sales (FMS) issues. In addition, E3A/KE-3A Extended Training Service Specialists (ETSS) personnel provide training and assistance to the RSAF in a variety of flying operations out of Riyadh Air Base. F-15 operations are supported by US Air Force personnel at Dhahran and Khamis Mushayt. RF-5 operations are supported at Taif, while C-130 operations are supported at Jeddah and Riyadh. Detachment Commanders (DETCO) serve as advisors to Saudi Air Base Area Chiefs and supervise ETSS personnel in the area.

The United States Military Training Mission (USMTM) Advisory Detachment located in Taif, Saudi Arabia, is responsible for providing advisors for key flag officers who oversee regional Royal Saudi Land Forces (RSLF) and Royal Saudi Air Forces (RSAF). In addition, the detachment is responsible for the protection, morale and welfare, and general supervision of permanent-party Department of Defense (DoD) Personnel stationed in the Taif area.
The mission of USMTM Advisory Detachment, Taif, and the other DoD organization, is to advise and assist local Saudi Military Forces through security assistance efforts to develop, train, and sustain a capable deterrent and self defense force to facilitate regional security, and when needed, expedite activation of CENTCOM, Saudi Arabia. Assistance is being provided to the RSAF $9 billion Peace Sun Nine (F-15S) program, $3.5 billion Peace Shield Kingdom-wide C2 air defense system) program, the RSLF Ordinance Corps Center and School (TOCC&S), and several SANG brigades.

The Saudi National Guard Omar bin Kattab Brigade (OKB) is stationed in Taif. A Light Infantry Brigade of the Saudi Arabian National Guard, the brigade consists of four line battalions. Major weapons systems include Cal 50 machine guns, 84mm and 106mm recoilless rifles, and 81mm mortars.