Royal Bahamas Defence Force • RBDF Air Wing

Royal Bahamas Defence Force • RBDF Air Wing

ROYAL BAHAMAS DEFENCE FORCE • RBDF Air Wing
Bahamas Aviation 1,500 Personnel (Unified Force).

Forces by Role & Equipment by Type
Air Wing Role (incl Maritime & Commando units)

• AIRCRAFT No combat capable. Total 3 Aircraft.

Transport / Surveillance 1 unit with:

• 1 Beechcraft A350 Super King Air (Maritime Patrol & Reconnaissance ac);
• 1 Cessna 208B Caravan;
• 1 Partenavia P-68C Observer.

Maritime Units (RBDF) 1,500 Personnel. 
Defence Forces Organisations by Service: 
Royal Bahamian Defence Force (Marine 1 coy (Marines with internal and base sy duties))

• Patrol & Coastal Combatants: 21 vessels.
  • 2 Bahamas class PCC;
  • 4 Arthur Dion Hanna class (Damen Stan Patrol 4207) PB;
  • 4 Lignum Vitae class (Damen 3007) PB;
  • 2 Dauntless class PB;
  • 4 Safe 44 class PB;
  • 1 Safe 33 class PB;
  • 2 Sea Ark 12m PB;
  • 2 Sea Ark 15m PB.
    
    
• Logistics & Support: 1 Lawrence Major (Damen 5612) AKR.

Commando Units

• 1 Commando Squadron (tasked with base protection and internal security).

Capabilities & Role The Royal Bahamas Defence Force (RBDF) is a unified command primarily focused on maritime security, counter-narcotics operations, and disaster relief. As a member of the Caribbean Community, the Bahamas is actively seeking to strengthen cooperative partnerships for regional maritime law enforcement.

While the Air Wing maintains a very small inventory of light aircraft for transport and observation, the force's primary strength lies in its maritime wing. The service is currently supported by the Sandy Bottom Project, which represents the largest-ever capital investment in the RBDF, aimed at acquiring new patrol craft and developing critical base and port infrastructure. The Bahamas maintains strong training relationships with both the United Kingdom and the United States, regularly participating in regional disaster-response exercises such as US SOUTHCOM’s Tradewinds. The country has no indigenous defence industry.

STORAGE AIRCRAFT
Light Transport 3 Tpt ac:
1 Cessna 404 Titan;
1 Cessna 421C Golden Eagle;
1 Aero Commander 500S Shrike Commander

• FACILITIES
  Bases Located at Coral Harbour, New Providence Island
  Nassau (MYNN) International Airport

Note: Bahamas has 23 airports with paved runways (over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 13 914 to 1,523 m: 5), 39 airports with unpaved runways (1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 12 under 914 m: 22) and one heliport.