<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0001179110-08-002322
<TYPE>4
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20070810
<FILING-DATE>20080205
<DATE-OF-FILING-DATE-CHANGE>20080205
<REPORTING-OWNER>
<OWNER-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>DESCH MATTHEW J
<CIK>0001178032
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>4
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>000-31031
<FILM-NUMBER>08575486
</FILING-VALUES>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<PHONE>8588267320
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>C/O SAIC
<STREET2>10260 CAMPUS POINT DR M/S F3
<CITY>SAN DIEGO
<STATE>CA
<ZIP>92121
</MAIL-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>0001178032</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>DESCH MATTHEW J</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>PMB 299</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>17194 PRESTON ROAD #102</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>DALLAS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>TX</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>75248</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>30000</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>30000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>30000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The Director Options become exercisable as to 1,250 shares on September 10, 2007, with the remaining becoming exercisable for an additional 1,250 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>
