Iraqi Air Force

not quite a complete list.

the 3rd squadron Iraqi AF has 3x Cessna Grand Caravan AC-208 armed with 2 hellfires each.

They've fired over 1500 hellfires at isis over the past 2 years. Of course those missiles are useless against larger targets.

Also Iraq only bought 36 F-16s (of which one crashed in the US, leaving 35 only). They have the following:

2x single seaters in Iraq
2x Dual seaters in Iraq

1x single seater crashed in US
6x single seaters in the US
4x dual seaters in the US

6x dual seaters not built yet
15x single seaters not built yet


Iraqi army aviation also has precision guided weapons:
-1000+ ATAKA missiles for Mi28Ne and Mi35M
-300 INGWE missiles for EC-635
-unknown number of Malyutka-2T from Serbia for upgraded Mi-17

Zivo wrote:
Hypothetically, if Iraq were to submit a request for assistance to the Russian Federation, and Russia were to agree to fly combat missions, how would these missions be executed? Latakia is at capacity, and although they could fly missions from mainland Russia, it wouldn't be very efficient in the long run. New base in Iraq? Borrow a field from Iran?

Kut Airbase already has the following:
1-Chinese Team training and operating maintaining the CH-4B UCAV
2- Russian Team training on and maintaining Iraqi Mi17 / Mi28 / Mi35
3- Some Iraqi SU-25s based out of there too.

Its a massive place and without any "US and allied state" presence at all... in fact that's where that predator drone crashed a week ago even though the area was neither a flightpath to ISIS land and hundreds of km from any ISIS types... it seems uncle sam was snooping around Kut.

Here's Kut airbase (note its an old sat image, facilities have been upgraded since...)
http://wikimapia.org/#lang=en&lat=32.488117&lon=45.760374&z=14&m=b


Near Kut there is "suwayra" air base that the Korean Chaebol Hanwha is renovating for Iraqs T-50IQ. Also no US presence there... but Koreans are there.

and here's Suwayra (once again old sat image):
http://wikimapia.org/#lang=en&lat=32.940223&lon=44.632001&z=14&m=b


If the russians don't want to base out of Kut or Suwayra for whatever reason... they can choose to operate out of...

Nu'maniah air base (next to the old tank factory which is now being renovated for production)
http://wikimapia.org/#lang=en&lat=32.512512&lon=45.336070&z=15&m=b

or if they want to get closer to the action... then Samarra East airbase is both secure as well as close to the front line.
http://wikimapia.org/#lang=en&lat=34.161818&lon=44.259195&z=15&m=b


obviously they'd avoid any base with US presence like Al Assad, Habaniya, Balad, Baghdad Muthanna, Tikrit AB etc...

sheytanelkebir wrote:

Zivo wrote:
Hypothetically, if Iraq were to submit a request for assistance to the Russian Federation, and Russia were to agree to fly combat missions, how would these missions be executed? Latakia is at capacity, and although they could fly missions from mainland Russia, it wouldn't be very efficient in the long run. New base in Iraq? Borrow a field from Iran?

Kut Airbase already has the following:
1-Chinese Team training and operating maintaining the CH-4B UCAV
2- Russian Team training on and maintaining Iraqi Mi17 / Mi28 / Mi35
3- Some Iraqi SU-25s based out of there too.

Its a massive place and without any "US and allied state" presence at all... in fact that's where that predator drone crashed a week ago even though the area was neither a flightpath to ISIS land and hundreds of km from any ISIS types... it seems uncle sam was snooping around Kut.

Here's Kut airbase (note its an old sat image, facilities have been upgraded since...)
http://wikimapia.org/#lang=en&lat=32.488117&lon=45.760374&z=14&m=b


Near Kut there is "suwayra" air base that the Korean Chaebol Hanwha is renovating for Iraqs T-50IQ. Also no US presence there... but Koreans are there.

and here's Suwayra (once again old sat image):
http://wikimapia.org/#lang=en&lat=32.940223&lon=44.632001&z=14&m=b


If the russians don't want to base out of Kut or Suwayra for whatever reason... they can choose to operate out of...

Nu'maniah air base (next to the old tank factory which is now being renovated for production)
http://wikimapia.org/#lang=en&lat=32.512512&lon=45.336070&z=15&m=b

or if they want to get closer to the action... then Samarra East airbase is both secure as well as close to the front line.
http://wikimapia.org/#lang=en&lat=34.161818&lon=44.259195&z=15&m=b


obviously they'd avoid any base with US presence like Al Assad, Habaniya, Balad, Baghdad Muthanna, Tikrit AB etc...

+1



Two armed US Predator drones crash in Iraq, Turkey

"Iraq News Agency, quoting lawmaker Hakim al-Zamili, said Iraq will receive its L-159 jet trainers from Czech Republic next month. It was reported earlier that Iraq placed an order for 10 L-159As and 2 L-159T1s. Three L-159As are to be used as spares."



Source: http://alert5.com/2015/10/30/43846/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

Iraq is about to receive its first batch of L-159 light jets. Due to arrive in Balad AB shortly.

Militarov wrote:Iraq is about to receive its first batch of L-159 light jets. Due to arrive in Balad AB shortly.

Good news, should come in handy....have they trained pilots for them already?

Actually the four iraqi instructor pilots are still in training in Czech as of now. The aircraft are being ferried to iraq by Czech pilots.

Thanks

Khalid Al-Obeidi oversees Iraq receiving first batch of L-159 fighter jets at Balad Airbase.

^^^

Great stuff

----

One of the four recently delivered F-16's is faulty/unflyable (in Arabic)....can our Iraqi members comment on this

http://www.almadapress.com/ar/NewsDetails.aspx?NewsID=59008

That claim is from hakim a zamili who is a complete knobhead and retard. He is the head of the parliament defence and security committee but wouldn't know the difference between a pistol or a rifle if it hit him on the head. It is guaranteed that everything he spouts is nonsense... Sadly he does spout a lot and his manure is spread far and wide by both iraqi as well as foreign media as if it was "official"... Needless to say only the ministry of defence can be taken with any seriousness, which long term watchers of Iraqi military affairs should know by now.

Hakim al zamili commented on the delivery of Antonov 32 to iraq by saying "our engineers have modified a Soviet plane jnt a fighter to defend our airspace".... He has been a source of a constant stream of nonsense on iraqi defence affairs for years now.

Iraq received the first five aircraft T-50IQ





http://bmpd.livejournal.com/1638913.html

US Approves $1.95Bln Sale of Weapons, Munitions for F-16 Jets to Iraq

The US Department of State has approved a potential $1.95 billion sale of additional weapons, munitions and equipment for Iraq’s fleet of F-16 fighter jets, the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency said in a press release.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — The US Department of State has approved a potential $1.95 billion sale of additional weapons, munitions and equipment for Iraq’s fleet of F-16 fighter jets, the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency said in a press release.

"Iraq requires these additional weapons, munitions, and technical services to maintain the operational capabilities of its aircraft," the press release stated on Wednesday.

The requested order includes 24 air-to-air AIM-9M Sidewinder missiles, 150 air-to-ground tactical Maverick missiles and more than 16,000 warheads, among other equipment, according to the release.

"This proposed sale contributes to the foreign policy and national security of the United States by helping to improve the security of a strategic partner."

Iraq purchased earlier 36 F-16 fighter jets from the United States.

Read more: http://sputniknews.com/military/20160121/1033459461/us-weapons-munitions.html#ixzz3xrdmzTYT

According to latest Khayma (MOD magazine) publication (can't post link yet, I'm too new), Iraq will receive 9 T50-IQs this summer.

That is good news. They are basically F-16 lites, and use the same weapons and even the SNIPER targeting pod, so they should significantly increase Iraq's precise ground attack capability...especially since the US is so slow in delivering the F-16s.

EDIT: or it is possible that they won't use them for attack roles, and use them only for F-16 training.
In that case, I assume the ground attack role will go to the L-159s, only two of which have been delivered so far. Hopefully more on the way soon.

JohninMK wrote:WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — The Iraqi air force has received two additional F-16 fighter jets, Operation Inherent Resolve spokesman Col. Steve Warren told reporters on Wednesday. "I can confirm that a second batch of F-16s has arrived here in Iraq," Warren stated in a briefing. "It’s quantity of two, which brings the total count of F-16s here in the Iraq air force up to six."

In 2012, Iraq signed a contract to buy its second set of 18 F-16 fighters from the United States, part of a deal to purchase 36 of the jets to rebuild its air force, according to the country's defense ministry. Warren explained that the lack of trained Iraqi pilots limits US ability to deliver the jets to the country.

In January, the US Department of State has approved a potential $1.95 billion sale of additional weapons, munitions and equipment for Iraq’s fleet of F-16 fighter jets. The requested order included 24 air-to-air AIM-9M Sidewinder missiles, 150 air-to-ground tactical Maverick missiles and more than 16,000 warheads, among other equipment, according to the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency.

Read more: http://sputniknews.com/middleeast/20160203/1034164120/f16-jets-iraq-deal.html#ixzz3z8ZweqZf

"A second batch of F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter jets reached an Iraqi Air Force (IAF) airbase yesterday, February 2, 2016, the Iraqi Ministry of Defense announced on its website. The aircraft were officially received by the IAF chief Lt. Gen Anwar Hama Amin. The first four F-16IQ Block 52 aircraft arrived at Balad Air Base in July 2015. The Iraqi Ministry of Defense in Baghdad did not specify the number of military aircraft arrived in Iraq as part of the delivery process. As reported by the president of the Defence Committee, these new batch should concern five F-16s.

Iraq ordered 36 of the Lockheed Martin airplanes, but initial deliveries were delayed because of security concerns after Islamic State militants overran large areas of of the country last year. Iraq has signed a contract with the US Administration in 2011 for the purchase of 36 aircraft, as part of a strategic agreement between the two countries. Iraq has put its F-16 warplanes into action against the Islamic State group for the first time in September 2015. On Jan. 20, 2016, the country purchased a major batch of weapons and equipment to its F-16 fighters to support the fight against Daesh."

Source: http://www.airrecognition.com/index.php/archive-world-worldwide-news-air-force-aviation-aerospace-air-military-defence-industry/global-defense-security-news/global-news-2016/february/2368-second-batch-of-f-16-fighter-jets-has-been-delivered-to-iraqi-air-force.html

Iraq has received additional Su-25s

http://echelon-defense.com/2016/09/03/iraq-has-received-additional-su-25s/

Iraqi Air Force has 21 Su-25





http://bmpd.livejournal.com/2100832.html

We need to place an order for some SU-30SM squadrons, all these delays will leave us with a dangerous gap. The coalition will leave our airspace one day.

no money... and Russia is not giving credit (their economic situation doesn't allow them either). This leaves Iraq with getting US and Chinese credit  for armaments.

So far the US credit line has been used simply for munitions (20K+ LGBs, 5K+ hellfires) and existing orders (maintenance and service, replacement of losses, small things, not expansion or increase in capability).

The chinese credit line is a bit "hush hush" but apparently its being used for building an air defence C4 system, munitions plants by chinese firms, more UCAVs... and FD-2000 SAMs to fill out the glaring mid-long range SAM gap.

Iraq had discussed buying JF-17s, but they rejected them, I don't think China has any "long range" high performance fighter jets they can offer Iraq... I don't think Iraqis fancy the J-10B and I doubt the Chinese will offer the J-10C. Ultimately Russian would be best, but there's no money... Iraqis can barely pay for the Russian Helicopters (Mi28 MI35 Mi171), ordnance and T-90S assembly line. Such a shame really... if the oil price was even $10 higher then we would have seen T90S, MiG35, BMP-3 and MSTA-S in Iraq by now

hell now Iraqis can't even afford to buy more KORNETs... so they've made a deal with Belarus to locally produce the Shershen missiles instead... ultimately replacing the Kornets. Similarly we see them buying cheapo BMP-1s because they can't afford to buy BMP-3s and so on...

sheytanelkebir wrote:no money... and Russia is not giving credit (their economic situation doesn't allow them either). This leaves Iraq with getting US and Chinese credit  for armaments.

So far the US credit line has been used simply for munitions (20K+ LGBs, 5K+ hellfires) and existing orders (maintenance and service, replacement of losses, small things, not expansion or increase in capability).

The chinese credit line is a bit "hush hush" but apparently its being used for building an air defence C4 system, munitions plants by chinese firms, more UCAVs... and FD-2000 SAMs to fill out the glaring mid-long range SAM gap.

Iraq had discussed buying JF-17s, but they rejected them, I don't think China has any "long range" high performance fighter jets they can offer Iraq... I don't think Iraqis fancy the J-10B and I doubt the Chinese will offer the J-10C. Ultimately Russian would be best, but there's no money... Iraqis can barely pay for the Russian Helicopters (Mi28 MI35 Mi171), ordnance and T-90S assembly line. Such a shame really... if the oil price was even $10 higher then we would have seen T90S, MiG35, BMP-3 and MSTA-S in Iraq by now

hell now Iraqis can't even afford to buy more KORNETs... so they've made a deal with Belarus to locally produce the Shershen missiles instead... ultimately replacing the Kornets. Similarly we see them buying cheapo BMP-1s because they can't afford to buy BMP-3s and so on...

China could offer J-11B and J-16, but I don*t think Russia will allow China to sell their Flankers.

sheytanelkebir wrote:no money... and Russia is not giving credit (their economic situation doesn't allow them either). This leaves Iraq with getting US and Chinese credit  for armaments.

That's quite foolish of Russia, they have the cash for it.
They just don't spend them on Iraq, which will come back to bite them in the long-term, as Syria with allienated or pro-US Iraq is a non-starter.

KiloGolf wrote:

sheytanelkebir wrote:no money... and Russia is not giving credit (their economic situation doesn't allow them either). This leaves Iraq with getting US and Chinese credit  for armaments.

That's quite foolish of Russia, they have the cash for it.
They just don't spend them on Iraq, which will come back to bite them in the long-term, as Syria with allienated or pro-US Iraq is a non-starter.

Iraq does not feel alienated by Russia. The intel-sharing Russia set up with them during the beginning of the Syria ops was proof of this (much to the chagrin of Uncle Sam). Besides, Russia was the one that jumped in and supplied the hardware when the US was unwilling to do so, if Iraq is in a desperate position again, Russia will help.