Royal Bahrain Naval Force
# Royal Bahrain Naval Force

The Royal Bahrain Naval Force (RBNF) (previously known as Bahrain Defense Force, Naval Branch) is the maritime branch of the Bahrain Defence Force. The current Commander of the Royal Bahrain Naval Force is Rear Admiral Mohammed Yousif al-Asam. The navy consists of 7 combat vessels, 31 patrol craft, 10 landing ships and over 700 personnel. The fleet is based at Mina Salman Naval Base and has a flight wing which can operate off the corvettes, consisting of two MBB BO-105 helicopters. The flagship of the RBNF is the vessel RBNS Sabha, an American-built missile frigate given to the state as a gift in 1996.

## Fleet

### Ships

| Type/Class | Quantity | Origin | In service | Details |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| Frigate |||||
| Oliver Hazard Perry class frigate (RBNS Sabha) | 1 | United States | 1981–present | 4 Harpoon SSMs, 1 MBB BO-105 shipboard helicopter, and SM-1MR SAMs. |
| Corvette |||||
| Al-Manama class Lürssen FPB 62 Guided-Missile Corvette Combatants | 2 | Germany | 1988–present | 4 MM40 Exocets. Being upgraded with new weapon control system. |
| Offshore patrol vessel |||||
| River-class Offshore Patrol Vessel - Modified Batch 1b (RBNS Al-Zubara) | 1 | United Kingdom | 2020 - Present | ex-HMS Clyde (P257). |
| Patrol craft |||||
| Cyclone-class patrol ship | 5 | United States | 2022–present | |
| Ahmed Al Fateh class Lürssen TNC 45 Guided-Missile Patrol Craft | 4 | Germany | 1984–present | 4 MM40 Exocets. Being upgraded with new weapon control system. |
| Al Riffa class Lürssen FPB 38 Patrol Craft | 2 | Germany | 1982–present | |
| Al Jarim Swiftships 65 Patrol Boat | 2 | United States | 1982–present | |
| Swiftships 35 Fast Patrol Vessels (FPV35s) | 2 | United States | 2021 | |
| Mark V Special Operations Craft | 7 | United States | 5 during 2018–19 | |
| Vigor Response-Boat Mediums (RB-M) | 2 | United States | 2019 | |
| BMT Group 18m patrol boat | 6 | United Kingdom | 2013–present | Built in Turkey, option for 6 more. |
| Wasp-11 | 2 | | | |
| Wasp-20 | 2 | | | |
| Wasp-30 | 1 | | | |
| VT Group VT-Halmatic 20 | 4 | Qatar | | |
| VT Group VT-Halmatic 160 | 6 | Qatar | | |
| Fairey Marine Swordsman | 4 | United Kingdom | | |
| Amphibious warfare ship |||||
| Al Hamra class ADSB Steel Landing Craft | 4 | United Arab Emirates | 2009+ | 2 42-meter and 2 16-meter. |
| LCU-1466 | 4 | United States | | |
| Fairey Marine LCU | 1 | United Kingdom | | |
| Arab Shipbuilding and Repair Yard Company Landing craft | 1 | Bahrain | 2016 | 34.5m in overall length. 1 more could be ordered. |

### Aircraft

| Type | Quantity | Origin | In service | Details |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| Helicopter |||||
| Bo 105CBS-4 | 3 | Germany | | The naval force operates a squadron of three Bo 105CBS-4 helicopters. |

### Missiles & Torpedoes

| Type | Quantity | Origin | Details |
| - | - | - | - |
| Missiles & Torpedoes |||||
| Exocet MM-40 | 67 | France | Delivered between 1984 and 2010. |
| Harpoon | 8 | United States | Delivered 1997–1998. |
| RIM-66 Standard | 22 | United States | RIM-66B Standard-1MR delivered 1997. |
| Mark 46 torpedo | 18 | United States | Mk-46 Mod-5 NEARTIP delivered 1997. |

## Future

Sep. 8, 2017 - The US State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to Bahrain for two 35 Meter Fast Patrol Boats. The estimated cost is $60.25 million. Now in service.

In 2019, Bahrain has purchased another frigate from the US, the USS Robert G. Bradley (FFG-49) which will join the fleet after completion of current refurbishment works.

Bahrain has ordered 6 Vigor RB-M Fast Interceptor boats. 3+ now in service.

1 Hamilton class cutter acquired from the United States in 2020 and 5 Cyclone patrol ships also acquired from the United States in 2022.

Bahrain Eyes French-Origin Egypt-Built Gowind Corvettes

## Bases

* Mina Salman Naval Base is a facility currently shared with the United States Navy and is used as a ship and submarine logistic support base for the entire US Fifth Fleet. It was opened in the 1980s as cargo facility and is now solely used as a naval port.
* Manama Naval Base is another key US Navy installation and formerly home to HMS Juffair. It is not used by RBNF.
* RBNF also operates a shipyard that is shared with several other neighbouring countries.

## Commanders

* Rear Admiral Mohamed bin Yousif Al-Asam
