Since the independence, Bahrain formed a small security force operating a limited helicopter fleet and from the mid-80s it had been slowly building up its defense assets with the delivery of one squadron of F-5E/Fs. The backbone of the fighter force is formed by two squadrons of F-16C/Ds delivered in two batches between 1990 and 2001. The jet-fleet will be supplemented by an unknown number of BAE Systems Hawk 100s that were ordered in July 2002. The helicopter fleet consists of 24 Bell AH-1E Cobra attack helicopters. The operational status of the Bell 212s and MBB Bo105s remains uncertain. To supplement the Cobra fleet, the Bahraini government has shown interest in the procurement of 17 additional surplus US AH-1Fs from which 14 would eventually enter service.
The Royal Bahraini Air Force (RBAF) was formerly known as Bahrain Ameri Air Force (BAAF) but since the elctions of 14 Februari 2002, the oilstate became a Monarchy and the Armed Forces were renamed accordingly.
On the 28th of January 2003, the government of Bahrain placed an order for six BAE Systems Hawk Mk.129 jet trainers that enables the RBAF to self sufficiently train pilots from Primary to Advanced. Deliveries of the firsat Hawks for 5sq commenced in October 2006.
In 1987 the Bahrain Defense Force, Naval Branch, was officially renamed to Bahrain Amiri Navy. Since then one sole helicopter is operated by the Navy Air Arm, being a MBB Bo105CBS-4. In line with the Air Force, the Navy also gained a new name reflecting the Monarchy and is known as Royal Bahraini Navy.