<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0001179110-08-002347
<TYPE>4
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20070810
<FILING-DATE>20080205
<DATE-OF-FILING-DATE-CHANGE>20080205
<REPORTING-OWNER>
<OWNER-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>TWYVER DAVID
<CIK>0001243981
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>4
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>000-31031
<FILM-NUMBER>08576275
</FILING-VALUES>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>PO BOX 2447
<CITY>FRIDAY HARBOR
<STATE>WA
<ZIP>98250-2447
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
</REPORTING-OWNER>
<ISSUER>
<COMPANY-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>AIRSPAN NETWORKS INC
<CIK>0001105542
<ASSIGNED-SIC>3663
<IRS-NUMBER>000000000
<STATE-OF-INCORPORATION>WA
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>1231
</COMPANY-DATA>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>777 YAMATO ROAD
<STREET2>SUITE 105
<CITY>BOCA RATON
<STATE>FL
<ZIP>33431
<PHONE>561-893-8670
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>777 YAMATO ROAD
<STREET2>SUITE 105
<CITY>BOCA RATON
<STATE>FL
<ZIP>33431
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</ISSUER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4 -
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2007-08-10</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001105542</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>AIRSPAN NETWORKS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>AIRN</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001243981</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>TWYVER DAVID</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>P.O. BOX 2447</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>FRIDAY HARBOR</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>WA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>98250</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable></nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Director Options (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>2.77</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2007-08-10</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>15000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2007-09-10</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2017-08-10</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>15000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>15000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The Director Options become exercisable as to 625 shares on September 10, 2007, with the remaining becoming exercisable for an additional 625 shares per month for 23 months, and will be fully exercisable on August 10, 2009.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Not Applicable.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Christopher H. Cunningham - Attorney in Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-02-05</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SUBMISSION>
