AFB Hernau

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AFB Hernau (English)
BFA Hernau (French)
Hernau, Aix, Saheil
USS Kitty Hawk at Yokosuka.jpg
Desjardins Quay with the Auxpuis-class aircraft carrier Fort-Françilien in the background in May 2009
TypeMilitary base
Site information
OwnerAininian Armed Forces
ConditionIn operation
Site history
Built5 August 1972
Garrison information
Current
commander
RAdm. Henri Quinton
GarrisonVI Nautarya Corps
2nd Air Group
Aininian Southern Fleet

Aininian Forces Base Hernau (French: Base des Forces aininiennes Hernau), commonly known as AFB Hernau (French: BFA Hernau) is an Aininian military base located in Hernau, Aix, Saheil. With a total area of 2,530 km2 (976.8 sq mi), most of which is a bombing range, it is the largest naval base in Esquarium by land area. It houses around 22,000 personnel and detachments from all three military branches of the Aininian Armed Forces, being home to the VI Corps and several supporting units of the Aininian Army, the 2nd Air Group of the Aininian Air Force and the Southern Fleet of the Aininian Navy.

The land for the base was acquired from the Saheilian government in 1990 under a perpetual lease. The arrangement is controversial in Saheil, with local residents and nationalist elements opposing the large Aininian military presence on Saheilian territory. A constitutional challenge, based on provisions in the Constitution of Saheil prohibiting surrender of lands to foreign powers, was turned down by the Supreme Court of Saheil in 2004.

On 7 December 2013, SDP Defence Minister Robert Moulin announced that operations at AFB Hernau were to be scaled over the next five years in favour of the Iberville Arsenal and AFB Charline Islands. The decision was rescinded in June 2014 by the incoming Democratic government of Caroline Évaline.