Six USAF F-15Cs of the 390th FS 'Wild Boars' from Mountain Home AFB, Idaho, deployed to Shaikh Isa to participate in Initial Link '08. Four of these Eagles are pictured taxiing to the runway for a sortie during the exercise.

A USAF F-15C tops up its fuel tanks from a KC-135R over the Persian Gulf as the wingman looks on.

Exercise Initial Link enables the RBAF to undertake manoeuvres it would not normally be able to do, such as air-to-air refuelling. Two Bahraini F-16Cs from the 1st FS await their turn while a 2nd FS Fighting Falcon takes on fuel from a USAF KC-135R. The F-16 in the foreground wears the marking that are to be adopted by all fast jets in the fleet - the wing symbol and RBAF titles.

A Royal Bahraini Air Force Lockheed Martin F-16C Fighting Falcon.

An RBAF F-16C sits in front of a hangar at Shaikh Isa AB. Bahrain received 12 Block 40 Fighting Falcons in 1990 and took delivery of a second batch often in 2000. These latter aircraft were also Block 40s, but unlike the earlier aircraft they are capable of carrying the LANTIRN targeting pod and the AIM-120 AMRAAM air-to-air missile. All the RBAFs F-16s are based at Shaikh Isa.

During Initial Link, the RBAF F-16Cs were mostly assigned to ground attack, though they also carry out the air-to-air role.

This two-seat trainer, F-16D, is one of four delivered to the RBAF in 1990 under the Peace Crown I programme, and is operated by the 1st FS. The gold film covering the front canopy dissipates radar energy, thereby reducing the radar cross section.

Two F-5E Tiger IIs of the 6th FS taxi out at Shaikh Isa. The type is now utilised mainly for ground attack, having largely relinquished its air-to-air role following the delivery of the F-16Cs.

An RBAF F-5E Tiger II returns to Shaikh Isa after a sortie. During some missions, these aircraft acted as decoys for the main strike package. Eight F-5Es and four F-5F trainers were delivered to the RBAF between 1985 and 1986.

BAE Systems Hawk Mk.129s of the RBAF took part in the exercise, though they are normally used as advanced lead-in fighter trainers by 5 Squadron at Shaikh Isa. Six of these aircraft were delivered to the RBAF in 2006.