Iraqi Air Force
Encyclopedia
The Iraqi Air Force or IQAF (Arabic: Al Quwwa al Jawwiya al Iraqiya القوة الجوية العراقية) is the military branch in Iraq
responsible for the policing of international borders, surveillance of national assets and aerial operations
. The IQAF also acts as a support force for the Iraqi Navy
and the Iraqi Army
and it also allows Iraq to rapidly deploy its developing Army.
The Iraqi Air Force was first founded in 1931, during British rule of Iraq. With a handful of pilots and continued to operate British
aircraft until the 14 July Revolution
in 1958, when the new Iraqi government began increased diplomatic relationships with the Soviet Union
. The air force used both Soviet and British aircraft throughout the 1950s and 1960s. When Saddam Hussein
came to power in 1979, the air force grew very quickly after Iraq
ordered more Soviet and French
aircraft. Its peak came a few years after the long and bloody Iran-Iraq War
, in 1988, when it consisted of over 950 aircraft, becoming one of the largest air forces in the region. Its downfall came after the Gulf War
and when the coalition forces enforced no-fly zones. Iraq's air force eventually collapsed after the 2003 invasion of Iraq
. Currently, the IQAF is rebuilding and receiving most of its training and aircraft from the United States
.
. Before the creation of the new air force, the RAF Iraq Command
was in charge of all British Armed Forces
elements in Iraq in the 1920s and early 1930s. The RIrAF was based at the airport in the Washash
neighborhood of Baghdad, and consisted of five pilots, aeronautics students trained at the RAF College Cranwell, and 32 aircraft mechanics. The original five pilots were Natiq Mohammed Khalil al-Tay, Mohammed Ali Jawad, Hafdhi Aziz, Akrem Talib Mushtaq, and Musa Ali. During the early years of the Royal Iraqi Air Force, it mainly received aircraft from the United Kingdom
as well as Breda Ba.65
attack planes and SM-79 bombers from Italy.
In the years following Iraqi independence, the Air Force was still dependent on the Royal Air Force
. The Iraqi government allocated the majority of its military expenditure to the Iraqi Army and by 1936 the Royal Iraqi Air Force had only 37 pilots and 55 aircraft. The following year, the Air Force showed some growth, increasing its number of pilots to 127.
, where it suffered its first combat loss. Its first combat against another conventional military was in the 1941 Anglo-Iraqi War
when the Iraqi government made a bid for full independance following a coup by Rashid Ali against pro-British Iraqi leaders. The RIrAF was destroyed as a fighting force, resulting in an alliance with the Axis which involved Luftwaffe
aircraft (painted in Iraqi markings) and Italian Regia Aeronautica aircraft assisting Iraqi ground forces until a lack of spares and replacements resulted in their departure, following which the coup was defeated by British forces.
The RIrAF was still recovering from its destruction by the British in 1948 when they joined in the war against the newly-created state of Israel
in the First Arab-Israeli War.> Even though the RIrAF now had some modern aircraft, the RIrAF played a small role in the first war against Israel
. From 1948 to 1949 the RIrAF operated Avro Anson
training-bombers from Jordan
from where they flew a number of attacks against the Israelis. Some of the Ansons were replaced by the modern Hawker Fury
fighter however these aircraft flew only two missions against Israel
in Iraqi markings before most were transferred to the Egyptians
. 14 Hawker Furies had been delivered but by June 7, 1948 only 6 remained operational. Despite these early problems the RIrAF purchased more Furies, acquiring a total of 38 F.Mk.1s single seaters and 4 two-seaters. which equipped numbers 1 and 7 Squadrons RIrAF. The only RIrAF Fury victory was an Israeli
Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress bomber.
. The first jet fighters, the de Havilland Vampire
of the RIrAF were delivered in 1953. The RIrAF also received de Havilland Venoms
and Hawker Hunters
during the mid-1950s. In 1954 and 1956, 19 de Havilland Vampire
jet fighters 14 ex-RAF Hawkers funded by the U.S. were delivered. They also received 4 Bristol 170 Freighters in 1953.
During the 14 July Revolution
in 1958, the King of Iraq was overthrown and the country established diplomatic and political relationships with Warsaw Pact
countries, while simultaneously severing relations with western nations. The Iraqi Air Force (IQAF) dropped the "Royal" from its name after the revolution. The Soviets were quick to supply MiG-17s, and later MiG-19 and MiG-21 fighters, as well as Ilyushin Il-28
bombers to the new Iraqi government. They also received 13 Ilyushin Il-14
transports in 1959 from Poland
. The first MiG-17s were first delivered in 1958 to replace the de Havilland Vampire
. During the late 1960s and or early 1970s additional MiG-17 examples may have been purchased and then forwarded to either Syria
or Egypt
. The IQAF received about 50 MiG-19s during the early 1960s but most of these remained in their crates and were subsequently re-delivered to Egypt
and only the 6th squadron ever operated the (roughly) 18 MiG19P and missile armed MiG19PMs, which it did from Rasheed Airbase in Baghdad. Iraq also received MiG21F-13 fighters in 1962 and TU-16 bombers after 1963. In 1966, Assyrian
Iraqi Captain Munir Redfa
defected with his MiG-21F-13 to Israel who in turn gave it to the United States
for evaluation under the code-name "Have Donut". However by then the MiG21-F13s had been replaced by MiG21FL and PFM in the Iraqi air force's frontline units and the MiG21-F13s were being used as operational conversion trainers.
The 1963 Iraqi coup d'état realigned Iraq with NATO powers, and as a result, more second-hand Hawker Hunter
s were delivered to the IQAF. For several years aircraft imports from the Communist Eastern European nations had been suspended until 1966, when MiG-21PF interceptors was purchased from the Soviet Union
. after the death in an aircraft accident of Abdelsalam Aref
, the Iraqi president, who was then replaced by his brother.
in June 1967, the Iraqi Air Force had a number of planes destroyed by an Israeli strike on H3 airbase in western Iraq on the first day of the war. The Iraqi Air Force regrouped and struck back, however, as it bombed several air bases and land targets on the fifth day, including strikes by Tu-16 bombers on Israeli airbases, where one of the striking bombers was shot down by Israelis, but the rest of the bombers returned safely. It also played a significant role in supporting Jordanian troops. As well, the Iraqi Air Force had one Pakistani pilot Saiful Azam
who claimed 2 kills of Israeli fighters over H3 in an Iraqi Hawker Hunter
. Iraqi pilots in Hawker Hunters made a further 5 claims against Israeli planes in air combat. Due to Hunters and MiG21PFMs the IQAF were successfully able to defend their air bases in western Iraq
from additional Israeli attacks. On the same day the IQAF also were able to break through Israeli air spaces and destroyed five Israeli aircraft in air fighting
.
to sell Mirage F-1s fighters (which were bought) and later Jaguars
(which were however never ordered).
Before the Yom Kippur War
, the IQAF sent 12 Hawker Hunter
s to Egypt
where they stayed to fight; only 1 survived the war. The IQAF first received their Sukhoi Su-7
s in 1968; they were originally stationed in Syria
. Aircraft deployed to Syria
suffered heavy losses due to Israeli aircraft and SAMs. In addition, they were hit with friendly fire
from Syrian SAMs. A planned attack on the 8th of October was canceled due to these heavy losses as well as disagreements with the Syrian government. Eventually, all aircraft besides several Sukhoi Su-7
s were withdrawn from bases in Syria. During the war in October 1973, the first air strike against Israeli bases in Sinai
was composed of Iraqi planes; they hit artillery sites and Israeli tanks, and they also claimed to have destroyed 21 Israeli fighters in air combat. Shortly after the war, the IQAF ordered 14 Tu-22Bs and two Tu-22Us from the USSR as well as Raduga Kh-22
missiles from Soviet Union
. By 1975, 10 Tu-22Bs and 2 Tu-22Us were delivered.
The 1970s also saw a series of fierce Kurdish uprisings in the north of the country against Iraq. With the help of the Shah of Iran, the Kurds received arms and supplies including modern SAMs as well as some Iran
ian soldiers. The IQAF suffered heavy casualties fighting the Kurds, so they began using their new Tu-22s in combat against them (using 3 tonne bombs from high altitude to avoid the Iranian HAWK SAM
batteries that the Shah had set up near the Iraqi border to cover the Kurdish insurgents. as they were able to avoid a greater percentage of SAMs due to their Higher bombing altitude and improved Electronic Countermeasures. During the mid-1970s, tensions with Iran
were high but was later resolved with the Algiers Treaty
.
, the IQAF had expected 16 modern Dassault Mirage F.1EQs from France
and were also in the middle of receiving a total of 240 new aircraft and helicopters from their Eastern European allies. When Iraq invaded Iran in late September 1980, the Soviets and the French stopped delivery of additional aircraft to Iraq but resumed deliveries a few months later.
The IQAF had to instead fight with obsolete Su-20, MiG-21 Fishbeds and MiG-23 Floggers. The MiG-21 was the main interceptor
of the force while their MiG-23s were used for ground attack and interception. the Su-20 were pure ground attack aircraft. These aircraft were still no match for the Iranian F-4 Phantoms and F-14 Tomcat
s, however. On the first day of the war, a formation of MiG-23s and MiG-21s raided airports and airfields of the Iranian Air Force
, but the Iranian aircraft were not heavily damaged because of strong concrete hangars that housed the planes. In retaliation for these aerial attacks, the Iranian Air Force launched Operation Kaman 99
a day after the war was launched.
During late 1981, it was soon clear that the modern Mirage F-1s and the Soviet MiG-25s were effective against the Iranians, though they suffered considerable losses to Iranian interceptors.. The IQAF began to use their new Eastern weaponry which included Tu-22KD/KDP bombers, equipped with Kh-22M/MP air-to-ground missiles, MiG-25s equipped with Kh-25
air-to-ground missiles as well as Kh-25
and Kh-58
anti-radar missiles and even MiG-23BNs, equipped with Kh-29L/T
missiles. In 1983, to satisfy the Iraqis waiting for their upgraded Exocet-capable Mirage F-1EQ5s, Super Etendards were leased to Iraq. The Iranian gunboats and the Iranian oil tanker fleet suffered severe damage at the hand of the 5 Super Etendards equipped with Exocet
anti ship missiles. One of these was lost during their 20 month combat use and 4 returned to the Aeronavale in 1985 interceptors
.
While the IQAF generally played a minor role in the war against Iran
, it had bombed airfields in Tehran
and other Iranian cities. The air force had a more successful role attacking tankers and other vessels using Exocet
missiles on their French
built Mirage F-1s. On May 17, 1987, an Iraqi F-1 mistakenly launched two Exocet anti-ship missiles into the American frigate USS Stark
crippling the vessel and killing 37 sailors.
By 1987, the air force consisted of 40,000 men, of whom about 10,000 were a part of the Air Defense Command. Its main base was in Tammuz (Al Taqqadum), Al Bakr (Balad
), Al Qadisiya (Al Asad
), Ali Air Base
, Saddam Airbase (Qayarrah West) and other major bases including Basra
. The IQAF operated from 24 main operating bases and 30 dispersal bases, with nuclear-hardened shelters and extensive runways. At the end of the war, the IQAF played a significant role in halting Iran's last military offensive, resulting in Iraq's relative success in this bloody and prolonged conflict.
gave the Air Force the opportunity to develop some battle-tested and hardened fighter pilots. Though information about the IQAF is, at best, hard to access, two men stand out as the best Iraqi fighter ace
s.
Mohommed Rayyan
, nicknamed "Sky Falcon," claimed 10 air combat kills, making him a flying ace
and the most successful Iraqi fighter pilot
of that war and of all-time. While only a Lieutenant
and flying a MiG-21MF, claimed two (later confirmed) kills against Iranian F-5E Tiger IIs in 1980. Later a Captain, he qualified on the MiG-25P in 1981 and scored 8 more victories (2 verified by western sources.) His 8 air combat victories make Rayyan the most successful MiG-25 fighter pilot ever.
Captain Omar Goben was another successful fighter pilot. While flying a MiG-21 he scored air kills against two F-5E Tiger IIs and one F-4E Phantom II in 1980. He later transferred to the MiG-23 and survived the war, but was killed in January 1991 flying a MiG-29 versus an American F-15C
.
had one of the largest air forces in the region even after the long Iran–Iraq War. The air force at that time contained more than 500 aircraft in their inventory. Theoretically, the IQAF should have been 'hardened' by the conflict with Iran
, but post-war purges of the IQAF leadership and other personnel decimated the air force, as the Iraqi regime struggled to bring it back under total control. Training was brought to the minimum during the whole of 1990.
The table below shows the Iraqi Air Force at the start of the Gulf War, its losses, damaged aircraft, flights to Iran and remaining assets at the end of the Gulf War. This is a combination of losses both in the air (23 aircraft) and on the ground (227 aircraft) and exclude the helicopters and aircraft that belonged to Iraqi Army Aviation, Iraqi Navy and the Aviation wing of the Iraqi Department of Border Enforcement.
During the 1991 Persian Gulf War
, the Iraqi Air Force was devastated by the United States
, the United Kingdom
and their allies. Most airfields were heavily struck, and in air combat Iraq was only able to obtain four confirmed kills (and 4 damaged and one probable kill), while sustaining 23 losses. All of the out of service (six) Tupolev Tu-22
s that Iraq possessed were destroyed by bombing at the start of Operation Desert Storm, though they had already been withdrawn from the inventory of the Iraqi Air Force and were simply used as decoys and do not appear on the operational list of lost aircraft from the Iraqi Air Force (like all other old aircraft which were used solely to deflect raids from operational assets).
The MiG-25 force (NATO reporting name
'Foxbat') recorded the first Iraqi air-to-air kill during the war. A Mig-25PDS shot down an US Navy F/A-18 Hornet
on the first night of the war. In 2009 the Pentagon announced they had identified the remains of the pilot, US Navy Captain Michael “Scott” Speicher
, solving an 18-year mystery. Captain Speicher, who was a Lieutenant Commander at the time, was apparently buried by nomadic Bedouin tribesmen close to where his jet was shot down in a remote area of Anbar province.
The second air-air kill was recorded by a pilot named Jameel Sayhood on January nineteenth. Flying a MIG-29 he shot down a Royal Air Force
Tornado GR.1A
. The RAF aircraft was piloted by Flight Lieutenant Gary Lennox, and Flight Lieutenant Adrian Weeks.
In another incident, an Iraqi Foxbat-E eluded eight USAF F-15C Eagles
, firing three missiles at a USAF EF-111 electronic warfare aircraft, forcing them to abort their mission. In yet another incident, two MiG-25's approached a pair of F-15 Eagles, fired missiles (which were evaded by the F-15s), and then out-ran the American fighters. Two more F-15s joined the pursuit, and a total of ten air-to-air missiles were fired at the Foxbats; none of which could reach them.
In an effort to demonstrate their own air offensive capability, on 24 January the Iraqis attempted to mount a strike against the major Saudi oil refinery in Abqaiq. Two Mirage F-1 fighters laden with incendiary bombs and two MiG-23s (along as fighter cover) took off from bases in Iraq. They were spotted by USAF E-3 Sentry
AWACS aircraft, and two Royal Saudi Air Force F-15s were sent to intercept. When the Saudis appeared the Iraqi MiGs turned tail, but the Mirages pressed on. Captain Iyad Al-Shamrani, one of the Saudi pilots maneuvered his jet behind the Mirages and shot down both aircraft. After this episode, the Iraqis made no more air efforts of their own, sending most of their jets to Iran in hopes that they might someday get their air force back. (Iran never returned the jets.)
The ethnic Assyrian
Air Vice Marshall Georges Sada
was sacked and imprisoned by Saddam Hussain for refusing to execute prisoners of war.
During the Persian Gulf War, most Iraqi pilots and aircraft (of French & Soviet origin) fled to Iran to escape the bombing campaign because no other country would allow them sanctuary. The Iranians impounded these aircraft after the war and never returned them, putting them in the service of the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force
– claiming them as reparations for the Iran–Iraq War. Because of this Saddam Hussein
did not send the rest of his Air Force to Iran just prior to Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003, instead opting to bury them in sand. Saddam Hussein, preoccupied with Iran and regional power balance, is reported to have had commented: "The Iranians are even stronger than before, they now have our Air Force."
These included: Mirage F1s, Su-20 and Su-22M2/3/4 Fitters, Su-24MK Fencer-Ds, Su-25K/UBK Frogfoots, MiG-23 Floggers, MiG-29A/UB Fulcrums and a number of Il-76s, including the one-off AEW-AWACS prototype Il-76 "ADNAN 1". Also, prior to Operation Desert Storm, ten Iraqi MiG-23s were sent to Yugoslavia for servicing, but were never returned due to the Yugoslav War.
The Iraqi airforce itself lists its air-to-air losses at 23 airframes compared to the US claims of 44. Similarly the Allies initially acknowledged 0 losses in air combat to the Iraqi air force, and only in 1995 acknowledged one loss, and after 2003 another one loss a further two Iraqi claims and one probable are still listed by the Allies as lost to "ground fire" rather than an Iraqi fighter.
As well as the Persian Gulf war, the IQAF was also involved in the 1991 uprisings in Iraq
. Alongside Army aviation Mi-8
, Mi-24, Gazelle, Alouette and Puma helicopters were used to counter the attempted Shi'ite and Kurdish revolts between 1991 and 1993.
After the Persian Gulf War, the air force consisted only of a sole SU-24 (nicknamed "waheeda" in the Iraqi airforce which translates to roughly "the lonely") and a single squadron of MiG-25s purchased from the Soviet Union
in 1979, Some Mirages, MiG23ML and SU22s also remained in use with the MiG29s being withdrawn from use by 1995 due to engine TBO limits and MiG21s withdrawn due to obsolescence. During the period of sanctions that followed, the Air Force was severely restricted by no-fly zone
s established by the coalition and by restricted access to spare parts due to United Nations
sanctions. Many aircraft were unserviceable and a few were hidden from American reconnaissance to escape potential destruction. In patrols of the no-fly zones, three Iraqi MiGs were lost. Despite several attacks from U.S. F-15s
and F-14
s firing AIM-54 and AIM-120 missiles at the Iraqi fighters, the Iraqi maneuvers ensured they were able to avoid any casualties in their dispute over Iraqi airspace. The last recorded air-to-air kill was on 23 December 2002, when a MiG-25 Foxbat shot down an American RQ-1 Predator
.
Recent information released by the DTIC containing the top-secret archives of the defunct Iraqi Airforce sheds light on the true losses and operations of the airforce during 1991.
That information is basically the "top secret" records of the Iraqi Air Force that were never publicised but were captured by the US in 2003 and translated by the US military and have been available in the public domain for a couple of years.
Interesting details about the Iraqi Air Force from this one compilation of official Iraqi Air Force documents include:
page 47. – Recon photo of al Khafji in Saudi Arabia taken by a MiG-25 in August 1990, confirming Iraqi overflights of Saudi Arabia.
page 61. Confirmation that the USAF AC-130 was downed with an SA-16 surface-to-air missile.
page 119-120 – Iraqi Mig-25s flew 4 recon flights over Kuwait in July 1990.
page 126. – Unwitting Russian participation in the Iraqi navy attack “[t]here were Russian experts on board for the purpose of training the [missile boat] crews.”
page 127 – During the invasion, Kuwaiti patrol boat managed to hit an Iraqi missile boat. The Iraqi missile boats (both of them) had non-functional weapons.
page 129 – During the invasion, an Iraqi Super Frelon helicopter supposed to support the naval assault was shot down by an I-HAWK surface-to-air missile.
page 132- According to the IRAF, during the invasion the Kuwaiti af flew 14 attack and 6 air defence sorties on the second of August.
page 133-4 : During the Iraqi military's 1995 "lessons learned" conference, the chief blame for failure to capture the al-Sabah
s was placed on the Iraqi Air Force.
page 135: During the invasion, 3-4 army aviation helicopters were destroyed by the Kuwaiti Air Force, but many more were lost by collision with powerlines and collisions with each other during landing by flying at night in large formations and without night training or night vision goggles (NVGs).
page 221: During the Gulf War, there was a plan of attack on aircraft carriers. Nevertheless, the planners determined that if they were ordered to try “the best way to disrupt the operation of the aircraft carrier,” which was to use 18 Sukhoi-22 M4 aircraft carrying 12 C28L [Kh-28] missiles, four Mirage F-1 aircraft carrying AIM-39 missiles, and 12 Mirage aircraft carrying AS-30 missiles. Of the 34 aircraft required for the mission, “...only 12 of them will reach the target and [these] won’t come back after their duty is over.” Moreover, the study continued, “The loss of 34 advanced ground attack planes to disrupt one aircraft carrier out of [the] nine carriers mobilized by the enemy in the region was ineffective.”
Also on the same page, there seems to have been no plan for the Iran evacuation plan before January 1991.
on page 223: Kuwaiti I-HAWK battery was deployed for the defence of Iraq's nuclear reactor. Iraq managed to briing into operation two of the four Kuwaiti batteries.
page 246 – the use of camels to resupply the 25th infantry division in the desert.
page 273 – The Iraqi Mirages sent to strike Ras Tanura made an aerial refueling along the Iran border at 100m altitude. The allies had initially thought them armed for an anti-shipping strike when in fact they were to bomb the oil terminals with Beluga cluster bombs.
page 280 – Describes the situation with the Iraqi Navy boats that tried to escape to Iran, confirming that 6 boats were sunk (21 claimed by the US) and that three boats reached Iran (one OSA, one Polnocny and the T43). 20 sailors died on the boats that sank and 68 were taken as POWs.
page 372: The major accomplishments of the Iraqi Air Force were measured in assets not lost. As the study noted “as a result of the competent measures our air force took to minimize the losses whether before or after the aggression, we were able to achieve the following”
Seventy-five percent of all combat and specialized planes were “rescued.” The report notes that this percent does not include “planes destroyed as a result of ground operations and riot.” By comparison, the study continues, “the losses of the Arab forces in the 1967 War, on the Egyptian front, were approximately 70 percent of the operating forces” and the “Zionist air power” then was much less than what Iraq faced in 1991.
The Air Force “rescued” 92% of all of the air weapons as a result of “concealment and dissemination.” More than 98% of the “expensive guided weapons” were also saved.
Seventy six percent of the “very expensive electronic war equipment” was preserved.
“The losses in personnel amounted to .096 percent and it is a small percentage...”
On page 374, interesting details about the use of jet engines to create dust storms to defend against air attacks, and their limitations in use.
page 376. Analysis of coalition attacks effectiveness. Percentage of the targets hit: 57%.
Percentage of “guided projectiles” [precision munition]: 45%.
“The enemy did not apply the technique of comprehensive regional bombardment. Only the vital areas of the targets were bombed.”
“The enemy succeeded in destroying most of the secured aircraft bunkers and command and control centers using guided aerial (1,000 kg) bombs, which proved the fragility of these bunkers.” The report added, however that “the air defense command centers, which were designed as strikeproof entities, remained intact and unaffected.”
“The targets that efficiently applied smoke and dust were exposed to severe raids and bombing, more than necessary to destroy it...”
“The principle of equipment dispersal emerged as effective, as it lessened the losses. [This] was particularly apparent when aircraft were dispersed outside their specified bunkers.
page 377: 65% of Iraq's SA-2 and SA-6 missile sites were destroyed, 26% of SA-3 batteries and 120 radar stations, only the low altitude rolands seemed to have survived well (7% loss). and by the end of the war had exhausted 98% of their SA-2 missiles.
Iraq had actually retained 3 I-HAWK batteries from Kuwait (not 2 as stated in an earlier page), and 2 of these survived.
Final Iraqi claims on coalition are 44 aircraft and 120 cruise missiles downed. including 4 confirmed kills in air combat with a further 4 damaged and 1 probable.
page 378. Indicates that during the first three days Iraqi interceptors flew 42 combat interceptions and downed 6 aircraft. quite the shocking claim.
Most surprisingly, the report noted that “after assessing that intercept operations were in vain, coupled with the expected losses, [the pilots] were not convinced and were afraid to carry out their missions (as many aircraft were destroyed moments after takeoff).”
They state that only the I-HAWK missiles could deal with multiple targets and the Strelas proved effective against cruise missiles. first i read about this.
page 393. Iraq's total ground force losses in the war: “1,772 tanks, 939 [Armored Personnel] Carriers, and 1,474 cannon (these are about HALF what the coalition claimed initially).
Page 394 – Shows Iraq's preoccupation with countering the US Army Apache helicopters. The doctrine that grew out of this was actually rather effective in the Battle of Karbala
in 2003.
page 398-399: Iraq's targets in Israel:
“The ministry of defense and the army chief of staff’s building in Tel Aviv.”
“The main communications station in Tel Aviv.”
“The al-Khudayrah Power Station.”
“The industrial area of Tel Aviv.”
“The gasoline refinery in Haifa.”
“The technology institute in Haifa.”
“The Haifa naval base.”
“Haifa and Tel Aviv ports.”
“Ben Gurion Airport.”
“The Dimona [nuclear] reactor.”
page 402: Details of Iraq's three ballistic missile "deception battalions" that operated using the same procedures as the "live" battalions, and still the coallition didn't hit any of the deception launchers. It seems Iraq hid its 14 real launchers among 78 "deception" vehicles. and none of them were hit.
4 kills:
17 January, 96th Sqn MiG-25PDS flown by Zuhair Dawood used R40RD to shoot down USN F/A-18C flown by Speicher.
19 January, 6th Sqn MiG-29 flown by Jameel Sayhood
used R60MK to shot down RAF Tornado GR1A flown by Lennox/Weeks
2 other confirmed kills by 96th Sqn MiG-25PDS DETAILS UNKNOWN.
1 probable:
DETAILS UNKNOWN
4 damaged:
17 January, 63rd Sqn, MiG-23ML flown by Hussam used R24T to damage USAF F-111F of the 48th TFW
17 January, 63rd Sqn, MiG-23ML used an R24T to damage USAF F-111F of the 48th TFW (serial 70-2384)
17 January, 6th Sqn, MiG-29 flown by Khudair Hijab used R60MK to damage USAF F-111F of the 48th TFW
17 January, 6th Sqn, MiG-29 flown by Khudair Hijab used an R27R to damage USAF B-52 of the 4300th Provisional BW flown by Mason/Linwood.
By 2003, Iraq's air power numbered an estimated 180, of which only about a half were flyable. In late 2002, a Yugoslav
weapons company provided servicing for the MiG-21s and MiG-23s, violating the UN sanctions. An aviation institute in Bijeljina
, Bosnia and Herzegovina
, supplied the engines and spare parts. These however, were too late to improve the condition of Iraq's air force.
On the brink of the US led invasion
, Saddam Hussein disregarded his air force's wishes to defend the country's airspace against coalition aircraft and ordered the bulk of his fighters disassembled or buried. Air Vice Marshal Abed Hamed Mowhoush
was apparently the air force commander immediately prior to the war. Some were later found by US excavation forces around the Al Taqqadum and Al Asad
air bases, including MiG-25s and Su-25s. The IQAF proved to be totally non-existent during the invasion; a few helicopters were seen but no fighters flew to combat coalition aircraft.
During the occupation phase, most of Iraq's combat aircraft (mainly MiG-23s, MiG-25s and Su-25s) were found by American
and Australian forces in poor condition at several air bases throughout the country while others were discovered buried. Most of the IQAF's aircraft were destroyed during and after the invasion, and all remaining equipment was junked or scrapped in the immediate aftermath of the war. None of the aircraft acquired during Saddam's time remained in service.
The Iraqi Air Force, like all Iraqi forces after the 2003 Invasion of Iraq
, is being rebuilt as part of the overall program to build a new Iraqi defense force. The newly created air force consisted only of 35 people in 2004 when it began operations.
In December 2004, the Iraqi ministry of defense signed two contracts with the Polish defence consortium BUMAR. The first contract, worth 132 million USD, was for the delivery of 20 PZL W-3 Sokół helicopters and the training of 10 Iraqi pilots and 25 maintenance personnel. They were intended to be delivered by November 2005, but in April 2005 the company charged with fulfilling the contract announced the delivery would not go ahead as planned, because the delivery schedule proposed by PZL Swidnik was not good enough. As a result only 2 were delivered in 2005 for testing.
The second contract, worth 105 million USD, consisted of supplying the Iraqi air force with 24 second-hand Russian-made, re-worked Mi-17
(Hips). As of 2008, 8 have been delivered and 2 more are on their way. The fleet of Hips is already operational. The Mi17s are reported to have some attack capability.
The Air Force primarily serves as a light reconnaissance and transport operation. On March 4, 2007, the IQAF carried out its first medical evacuation in the city of Baghdad when an injured police officer was airlifted to a hospital.
In 2007, the USAF's Second Air Force
, part of Air Education and Training Command
, was given responsibility to provide curricula and advice to the Iraqi Air Force as it stands up its own technical training and branch specific basic training among others. This mission is known as "CAFTT" for Coalition Air Forces Training Team.
During the 2008 Battle of Basra the Iraqi Air Force planned, executed, and monitored 104 missions in support of Iraqi ground security forces in Basra during Operation Charge of the Knights in the Basra area between March 25 and April 1.
In 2009 the first of several Iraqi officers completed their flying training at RAF Cranwell
, a development with echos of the Iraqi Air Force's early beginnings.
On April 29, 2009 the first 3 of an unspecified number of Beech 350 Super King Air light transport airplanes arrived at London-Luton airport on delivery to the Iraqi Air Force.
On August 30, 2009 the Iraq Defense Ministry revealed that they had discovered 19 Soviet Mig-21 and MiG-23 aircraft that had been stored in Serbia. Saddam Hussein sent the 19 jet fighters to Serbia for repairs in the 1980s, during the Iran-Iraq war but was unable to bring them back after sanctions had been imposed on his country. The Serbian Government promised to make two of the aircraft available “for immediate use,” and would proceed to restore the remaining aircraft on a rush basis.
It was reported in December 2007 that a deal had been reached between the Iraqi government and Serbia for the sale of arms and other military equipment including 36 Lasta 95
basic trainers. It is speculated that Iraq may buy 50 Aérospatiale Gazelle
attack helicopters from France. In July 2008, Iraq had formally requested an order for 24 light attack and reconnaissance helicopters. The aircraft would either be the U.S. Army's new ARH-70 helicopter or the more popular MH-6 Little Bird
.
On October 14, 2008, Aviation Week reported that two hellfire
-equipped Cessna 208Bs were spotted at an ATK facility in Meacham Airport, Fort Worth, Texas. The Iraqi air force is due to receive 3 armed Cessna Caravans in December 2008, with two more to be delivered in 2009. This represents the first IAQF strike capability since the start of the war in 2003.
The Iraqi government announced in November 2008 that the Iraqi Air Force would purchase 108 aircraft through 2011. Ultimately the force will consist of up to 516 total aircraft by 2015, then 550 total aircraft by 2018. Specific types being purchased included Eurocopter EC 635 and Bell ARH-70 type helicopters. Additionally, 24 T-6 Texan II
aircraft would be purchased for the light attack role.
Over the summer of 2008, the Defense Department announced that the Iraqi government wanted to order more than 400 armored vehicles and other equipment worth up to $3 billion, and six C-130J transport planes, worth up to $1.5 billion.
There are set talks to buy Czech made combat aircraft Aero L-159 ALCA.
Iraq's air space will be unguarded from December 2011 until 18 F-16 jet fighters and their pilots are ready two years later. November 2011, there are currently six Iraqi F-16 candidates in the U.S. for different phases of pilot training. These students will form the core of Iraq's future F-16 force.
! style="text-align:left; background:#acc;"|Aircraft
! style="text-align:left; background:#acc;"|Origin
! style="text-align:left; background:#acc;"|Type
! style="text-align:left; background:#acc;"|Versions
! style="text-align:left; background:#acc;"|In service
! style="text-align:left; background:#acc;"|Notes
|-
| colspan="7" style="text-align:center;"|Trainer Aircraft
|-
| Aero L-159 ALCA || || jet trainer/ light fighter || L-159B || 0 || Possible sale or oil trade of either 24 or 36 aircraft from Czech
surplus.
|-
| Bell 206 JetRanger
|| || utility/ training helicopter || 206B || 10 ||
|-
| Bell 407
|| || conversion training helicopter || T-407 || 3 || To be used as training helicopter for the armed versions.
|-
| Bell OH-58 Kiowa
|| || utility/ training helicopter || OH-58C || 10 || On loan from US Army
|-
| Cessna 172 Skyhawk || || utility/ basic training || || 18 || Option for up to 28 total aircraft
|-
| Cessna 208 Caravan
|| || utility/ training || TC208 || 5 ||
|-
| Hawker Beechcraft T-6 Texan II
|| || training || T-6A || 15 || Option for up to 20 aircraft.
|-
| Ikarus C42
|| || utility/ basic training || || ? || Used by the Peshmerga
.
|-
| UTVA Lasta 95
|| || basic training/ light attack || || 20 || Delivered between Dec. 2010 and Mar. 2011.
|-
| colspan="7" style="text-align:center;"|Fighter Aircraft
|-
| Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcon || || Multirole Fighter Aircraft || F-16IQ (Block 50/52) || 0 || Initial payment for 18 aircraft made September 2011.
|-
| colspan="7" style="text-align:center;"|Transport Aircraft
|-
| Antonov An-32
|| || medium transport || An-32B || 1 || First two aircraft accepted by Iraq in November 2011, first delivered November 18. Five still on order.
|-
| Beechcraft King Air 350
|| || light/ VIP transport || 350ER || 24 || All operated by 87th sqn.
|-
| Lockheed C-130 Hercules || || tactical airlift/ transport || C-130E
C-130-J30 || 3
0 || ex-USAF, 6 C-130-J30
versions to be delivered.
|-
| colspan="7" style="text-align:center;"|Reconnaissance Aircraft
|-
| Beechcraft King Air 350
|| || surveillance and reconnaissance || 350ISR || 10 ||
|-
| Cessna 208 Caravan
|| || ground surveillance/ strike || RC/AC208 || 8|| 3 armed with Hellfire missiles.
|-
| SAMA CH2000
|| || liaison || || 16 ||
|-
| Seabird SBL-360 Seeker
|| || Observation/ liaison || SB7L-360A || 2 ||Both aircraft upgraded with Westar reconnaissance sensors and returned to service in 2009.
|-
| colspan="7" style="text-align:center;"|Helicopters
|-
| Bell UH-1H Iroquois || || light-lift utility helicopter || Huey II || 16 || 2nd Squadron. Used for medivac
/ search and rescue.
|-
| Bell Armed 407
|| || reconnaissance/ light attack helicopter || IA-407 || 0 || 24 helicopters to be delivered by 2011. Option for additional 26 helicopters TBD through 2012.
|-
| Eurocopter EC 635 || || light attack/ utilitiy helicopter || || 2 || 24 helicopters to be delivered by 2011. Option for additional 26 helicopters TBD through 2012. First deliveries in January 2010.
|-
| Aérospatiale SA 342 Gazelle
|| || light attack/ utility helicopter || SA 342L || 6 || 24 Purchased from French surplus, first deliveries in May 2010. Option for up to 50 total.
|-
| Mil Mi-17 Hip-H
|| || medium-lift transport helicopter || Mi-171E
Mi-8T
Mi-17-v5 || 22
2?
16 || 14 additional helicopters not operational. One crashed with 5 KIA. Mi-8T
being refurbished under contract in Ukraine
.
|-
| Total || || || || 220? || ~529 expected total
|}
On November 19, 2009, the US DSCA announced a formal request from the Iraqi government to buy up to 27 light and medium utility helicopters, in a deal whose possible value is set at $1.2 billion.
The Government of Iraq has requested a possible sale in a couple of categories. The Light Utility Observation category already fits the EC635, which reportedly has an option for additional helicopters in the contract. Candidates in the DSCA request include up to:
In the medium utility category, candidates include:
However this could be delayed, for reasons that go beyond the standard 30-day Congressional blocking period. A drop in global oil prices from their recent $100+/bbl highs has affected Iraq’s budgets, and delayed a number of existing military purchases. This combination of budget issues, and a rigid agreement concerning the end of America’s combat presence in Iraq, has left the Iraqi government in a position where it is unlikely to be able to properly enforce the military mandates it will assume. American and Iraqi personnel have been assessing what is possible by 2011–2012, and what might be done. Prioritization of requests will be especially tight in this environment.
Throughout 2010 and 2011, the Iraqi government and the MoI announced intentions to buy Dassault Mirage F1
and F-16C
Block 52 fighters. Whereby the Iraqi cabinet specified a sum of $900m as a first installment of $3b worth of aircraft, equipment, spare parts, and training.
The deal to buy the F-16 fighters seemed to teeter as the GoI reversed its decision on the 12th of February and wanted to divert the initial sum of $900m to economic reconstruction.
However, on the 12th of July 2011, the GoI re-iterated its interest in the F-16s due to the pending withdrawal of American forces from Iraq, and some sources indicate that the GoI is interested in doubling the number of fighters to be purchased to 36.
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
responsible for the policing of international borders, surveillance of national assets and aerial operations
Aerial warfare
Aerial warfare is the use of military aircraft and other flying machines in warfare, including military airlift of cargo to further the national interests as was demonstrated in the Berlin Airlift...
. The IQAF also acts as a support force for the Iraqi Navy
Iraqi Navy
The Iraqi Navy is one of the components of the military of Iraq currently being reconstructed by UK-US Coalition forces in Iraq. Its primary responsibilities are the protection of Iraq's coastline and offshore assets...
and the Iraqi Army
Iraqi Army
The Iraqi Army is the land component of the Iraqi military, active in various forms since being formed by the British during their mandate over the country after World War I....
and it also allows Iraq to rapidly deploy its developing Army.
The Iraqi Air Force was first founded in 1931, during British rule of Iraq. With a handful of pilots and continued to operate British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
aircraft until the 14 July Revolution
14 July Revolution
The 14 July Revolution was a coup which took place on 14 July 1958 in Iraq, marking the overthrow of the Hashemite monarchy established by King Faisal I in 1932 under the auspices of the British. In 1958, the coup overthrew King Faisal II, the regent and Crown Prince 'Abd al-Ilah, and Prime...
in 1958, when the new Iraqi government began increased diplomatic relationships with the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
. The air force used both Soviet and British aircraft throughout the 1950s and 1960s. When Saddam Hussein
Saddam Hussein
Saddam Hussein Abd al-Majid al-Tikriti was the fifth President of Iraq, serving in this capacity from 16 July 1979 until 9 April 2003...
came to power in 1979, the air force grew very quickly after Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
ordered more Soviet and French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
aircraft. Its peak came a few years after the long and bloody Iran-Iraq War
Iran-Iraq War
The Iran–Iraq War was an armed conflict between the armed forces of Iraq and Iran, lasting from September 1980 to August 1988, making it the longest conventional war of the twentieth century...
, in 1988, when it consisted of over 950 aircraft, becoming one of the largest air forces in the region. Its downfall came after the Gulf War
Gulf War
The Persian Gulf War , commonly referred to as simply the Gulf War, was a war waged by a U.N.-authorized coalition force from 34 nations led by the United States, against Iraq in response to Iraq's invasion and annexation of Kuwait.The war is also known under other names, such as the First Gulf...
and when the coalition forces enforced no-fly zones. Iraq's air force eventually collapsed after the 2003 invasion of Iraq
2003 invasion of Iraq
The 2003 invasion of Iraq , was the start of the conflict known as the Iraq War, or Operation Iraqi Freedom, in which a combined force of troops from the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and Poland invaded Iraq and toppled the regime of Saddam Hussein in 21 days of major combat operations...
. Currently, the IQAF is rebuilding and receiving most of its training and aircraft from the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
History
The Royal Iraqi Air Force (RIrAF) considered its founding day as 22 April 1931, when the first pilots flew in from training in the United KingdomUnited Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. Before the creation of the new air force, the RAF Iraq Command
RAF Iraq Command
Iraq Command was the RAF commanded inter-service command in charge of British forces in Iraq in the 1920s and early 1930s, during the period of the British Mandate of Mesopotamia. It continued as British Forces in Iraq until 1941 when it was replaced by AHQ Iraq...
was in charge of all British Armed Forces
British Armed Forces
The British Armed Forces are the armed forces of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.Also known as Her Majesty's Armed Forces and sometimes legally the Armed Forces of the Crown, the British Armed Forces encompasses three professional uniformed services, the Royal Navy, the...
elements in Iraq in the 1920s and early 1930s. The RIrAF was based at the airport in the Washash
Al-Washash
hay 14 ramadan is a neighborhood of Baghdad, Iraq.Located within Mansour district, surrounded by, Iskan from west, Al-Mutanabi from south, Al-Mothana Airport from east.-References:...
neighborhood of Baghdad, and consisted of five pilots, aeronautics students trained at the RAF College Cranwell, and 32 aircraft mechanics. The original five pilots were Natiq Mohammed Khalil al-Tay, Mohammed Ali Jawad, Hafdhi Aziz, Akrem Talib Mushtaq, and Musa Ali. During the early years of the Royal Iraqi Air Force, it mainly received aircraft from the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
as well as Breda Ba.65
Breda Ba.65
|-See also:-References:NotesBibliography* Angelucci, Enzo and Paolo Matricardi. World Aircraft: World War II, Volume I . Maidenhead, UK: Sampson Low, 1978. ISBN 0-562-00096-8....
attack planes and SM-79 bombers from Italy.
In the years following Iraqi independence, the Air Force was still dependent on the Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
. The Iraqi government allocated the majority of its military expenditure to the Iraqi Army and by 1936 the Royal Iraqi Air Force had only 37 pilots and 55 aircraft. The following year, the Air Force showed some growth, increasing its number of pilots to 127.
1940s
The RIrAF was first used in combat against the revolts by tribes in Diwaniya and Rumaytha southern Iraq in 1934 under order of Bakr SidqiBakr Sidqi
Bakr Sidqi , an Iraqi nationalist and general of Kurdish origin, but not a Kurdish nationalist, was born 1890 in Kirkuk and assassinated on August 12, 1937, at Mosul.-Biography:...
, where it suffered its first combat loss. Its first combat against another conventional military was in the 1941 Anglo-Iraqi War
Anglo-Iraqi War
The Anglo-Iraqi War was the name of the British campaign against the rebel government of Rashid Ali in the Kingdom of Iraq during the Second World War. The war lasted from 2 May to 31 May 1941. The campaign resulted in the re-occupation of Iraq by British armed forces and the return to power of the...
when the Iraqi government made a bid for full independance following a coup by Rashid Ali against pro-British Iraqi leaders. The RIrAF was destroyed as a fighting force, resulting in an alliance with the Axis which involved Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe is a generic German term for an air force. It is also the official name for two of the four historic German air forces, the Wehrmacht air arm founded in 1935 and disbanded in 1946; and the current Bundeswehr air arm founded in 1956....
aircraft (painted in Iraqi markings) and Italian Regia Aeronautica aircraft assisting Iraqi ground forces until a lack of spares and replacements resulted in their departure, following which the coup was defeated by British forces.
The RIrAF was still recovering from its destruction by the British in 1948 when they joined in the war against the newly-created state of Israel
Declaration of the Establishment of the State of Israel
The Israeli Declaration of Independence , made on 14 May 1948 , the day before the British Mandate was due to expire, was the announcement by David Ben-Gurion, the Executive Head of the World Zionist Organization and chairman of the Jewish Agency for Palestine, that the new Jewish state named the...
in the First Arab-Israeli War.> Even though the RIrAF now had some modern aircraft, the RIrAF played a small role in the first war against Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
. From 1948 to 1949 the RIrAF operated Avro Anson
Avro Anson
The Avro Anson is a British twin-engine, multi-role aircraft that served with the Royal Air Force, Fleet Air Arm and numerous other air forces prior to, during, and after the Second World War. Named for British Admiral George Anson, it was originally designed for maritime reconnaissance, but was...
training-bombers from Jordan
Jordan
Jordan , officially the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan , Al-Mamlaka al-Urduniyya al-Hashemiyya) is a kingdom on the East Bank of the River Jordan. The country borders Saudi Arabia to the east and south-east, Iraq to the north-east, Syria to the north and the West Bank and Israel to the west, sharing...
from where they flew a number of attacks against the Israelis. Some of the Ansons were replaced by the modern Hawker Fury
Hawker Sea Fury
The Hawker Sea Fury was a British fighter aircraft developed for the Royal Navy by Hawker during the Second World War. The last propeller-driven fighter to serve with the Royal Navy, it was also one of the fastest production single piston-engined aircraft ever built.-Origins:The Hawker Fury was an...
fighter however these aircraft flew only two missions against Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
in Iraqi markings before most were transferred to the Egyptians
Egyptians
Egyptians are nation an ethnic group made up of Mediterranean North Africans, the indigenous people of Egypt.Egyptian identity is closely tied to geography. The population of Egypt is concentrated in the lower Nile Valley, the small strip of cultivable land stretching from the First Cataract to...
. 14 Hawker Furies had been delivered but by June 7, 1948 only 6 remained operational. Despite these early problems the RIrAF purchased more Furies, acquiring a total of 38 F.Mk.1s single seaters and 4 two-seaters. which equipped numbers 1 and 7 Squadrons RIrAF. The only RIrAF Fury victory was an Israeli
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress bomber.
1950s and early 1960s
During the 1950s, the RIrAF was affected when the monarchy was toppled in 1958 resulting in the cessation of arms imports from western countries such as Great Britain. From 1950 to 1958 most of the RIrAF aircraft were from the United KingdomUnited Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. The first jet fighters, the de Havilland Vampire
De Havilland Vampire
The de Havilland DH.100 Vampire was a British jet-engine fighter commissioned by the Royal Air Force during the Second World War. Following the Gloster Meteor, it was the second jet fighter to enter service with the RAF. Although it arrived too late to see combat during the war, the Vampire served...
of the RIrAF were delivered in 1953. The RIrAF also received de Havilland Venoms
De Havilland Venom
The de Havilland DH 112 Venom was a British postwar single-engined jet aircraft developed from the de Havilland Vampire. It served with the Royal Air Force as a single-seat fighter-bomber and two-seat night fighter....
and Hawker Hunters
Hawker Hunter
The Hawker Hunter is a subsonic British jet aircraft developed in the 1950s. The single-seat Hunter entered service as a manoeuvrable fighter aircraft, and later operated in fighter-bomber and reconnaissance roles in numerous conflicts. Two-seat variants remained in use for training and secondary...
during the mid-1950s. In 1954 and 1956, 19 de Havilland Vampire
De Havilland Vampire
The de Havilland DH.100 Vampire was a British jet-engine fighter commissioned by the Royal Air Force during the Second World War. Following the Gloster Meteor, it was the second jet fighter to enter service with the RAF. Although it arrived too late to see combat during the war, the Vampire served...
jet fighters 14 ex-RAF Hawkers funded by the U.S. were delivered. They also received 4 Bristol 170 Freighters in 1953.
14 July Revolution
The 14 July Revolution was a coup which took place on 14 July 1958 in Iraq, marking the overthrow of the Hashemite monarchy established by King Faisal I in 1932 under the auspices of the British. In 1958, the coup overthrew King Faisal II, the regent and Crown Prince 'Abd al-Ilah, and Prime...
in 1958, the King of Iraq was overthrown and the country established diplomatic and political relationships with Warsaw Pact
Warsaw Pact
The Warsaw Treaty Organization of Friendship, Cooperation, and Mutual Assistance , or more commonly referred to as the Warsaw Pact, was a mutual defense treaty subscribed to by eight communist states in Eastern Europe...
countries, while simultaneously severing relations with western nations. The Iraqi Air Force (IQAF) dropped the "Royal" from its name after the revolution. The Soviets were quick to supply MiG-17s, and later MiG-19 and MiG-21 fighters, as well as Ilyushin Il-28
Ilyushin Il-28
The Ilyushin Il-28 is a jet bomber aircraft of the immediate postwar period that was originally manufactured for the Soviet Air Force. It was the USSR's first such aircraft to enter large-scale production. It was also licence-built in China as the Harbin H-5. Total production in the USSR was 6,316...
bombers to the new Iraqi government. They also received 13 Ilyushin Il-14
Ilyushin Il-14
The Ilyushin Il-14 was a Soviet twin-engine commercial and military personnel and cargo transport aircraft that first flew in 1950, and entered service in 1954. Il-14 was also manufactured in East Germany by VVB Flugzeugbau, in Czechoslovakia as the Avia 14, and in China under the Chinese...
transports in 1959 from Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
. The first MiG-17s were first delivered in 1958 to replace the de Havilland Vampire
De Havilland Vampire
The de Havilland DH.100 Vampire was a British jet-engine fighter commissioned by the Royal Air Force during the Second World War. Following the Gloster Meteor, it was the second jet fighter to enter service with the RAF. Although it arrived too late to see combat during the war, the Vampire served...
. During the late 1960s and or early 1970s additional MiG-17 examples may have been purchased and then forwarded to either Syria
Syria
Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....
or Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
. The IQAF received about 50 MiG-19s during the early 1960s but most of these remained in their crates and were subsequently re-delivered to Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
and only the 6th squadron ever operated the (roughly) 18 MiG19P and missile armed MiG19PMs, which it did from Rasheed Airbase in Baghdad. Iraq also received MiG21F-13 fighters in 1962 and TU-16 bombers after 1963. In 1966, Assyrian
Assyrian people
The Assyrian people are a distinct ethnic group whose origins lie in ancient Mesopotamia...
Iraqi Captain Munir Redfa
Munir Redfa
Munir Redfa was an Iraqi fighter pilot, of ethnic Assyrian origin, who defected to Israel in 1966 by flying a MiG-21 of the Iraqi Air Force. In what is considered as one of the Mossad's most successful operations, Redfa's entire extended family was smuggled safely out of Iraq to Israel...
defected with his MiG-21F-13 to Israel who in turn gave it to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
for evaluation under the code-name "Have Donut". However by then the MiG21-F13s had been replaced by MiG21FL and PFM in the Iraqi air force's frontline units and the MiG21-F13s were being used as operational conversion trainers.
The 1963 Iraqi coup d'état realigned Iraq with NATO powers, and as a result, more second-hand Hawker Hunter
Hawker Hunter
The Hawker Hunter is a subsonic British jet aircraft developed in the 1950s. The single-seat Hunter entered service as a manoeuvrable fighter aircraft, and later operated in fighter-bomber and reconnaissance roles in numerous conflicts. Two-seat variants remained in use for training and secondary...
s were delivered to the IQAF. For several years aircraft imports from the Communist Eastern European nations had been suspended until 1966, when MiG-21PF interceptors was purchased from the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
. after the death in an aircraft accident of Abdelsalam Aref
Abdul Salam Arif
Abdul Salam Mohammed Arif Aljumaily was President of Iraq from 1963 till his death. He played a leading role in the coup in which the Hashemite monarchy was overthrown on July 14, 1958.-1958 revolution and conflict with Qasim:...
, the Iraqi president, who was then replaced by his brother.
Six-Day War
During the Six-Day WarSix-Day War
The Six-Day War , also known as the June War, 1967 Arab-Israeli War, or Third Arab-Israeli War, was fought between June 5 and 10, 1967, by Israel and the neighboring states of Egypt , Jordan, and Syria...
in June 1967, the Iraqi Air Force had a number of planes destroyed by an Israeli strike on H3 airbase in western Iraq on the first day of the war. The Iraqi Air Force regrouped and struck back, however, as it bombed several air bases and land targets on the fifth day, including strikes by Tu-16 bombers on Israeli airbases, where one of the striking bombers was shot down by Israelis, but the rest of the bombers returned safely. It also played a significant role in supporting Jordanian troops. As well, the Iraqi Air Force had one Pakistani pilot Saiful Azam
Saiful Azam
Saiful Azam is a pilot of the Bangladesh Air Force. He was born in Pabna, Bangladesh in 1941. He spent most of his childhood in Calcutta. In 1947, his family moved to East Pakistan after the British left the subcontinent. He went to West Pakistan in 1955 where he attended high school until 1958...
who claimed 2 kills of Israeli fighters over H3 in an Iraqi Hawker Hunter
Hawker Hunter
The Hawker Hunter is a subsonic British jet aircraft developed in the 1950s. The single-seat Hunter entered service as a manoeuvrable fighter aircraft, and later operated in fighter-bomber and reconnaissance roles in numerous conflicts. Two-seat variants remained in use for training and secondary...
. Iraqi pilots in Hawker Hunters made a further 5 claims against Israeli planes in air combat. Due to Hunters and MiG21PFMs the IQAF were successfully able to defend their air bases in western Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
from additional Israeli attacks. On the same day the IQAF also were able to break through Israeli air spaces and destroyed five Israeli aircraft in air fighting
Dog fighting
Dog fighting is a form of blood sport in which game dogs are made to fight, sometimes to the death. It is illegal in most developed countries. Dog fighting is used for entertainment and may also generate revenue from stud fees, admission fees and gambling....
.
1970s and the Yom Kippur War
Throughout this decade, the IQAF grew in size and capability, as The 20 year Treaty of friendship with the USSR signed in 1971 brought large numbers of relatively modern fighter aircraft to the air force. The Iraqi government was never satisfied with the Soviet supplying them and while they were purchasing modern fighters like the MiG-21 and the Sukhoi Su-20, they began persuading the FrenchFrance
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
to sell Mirage F-1s fighters (which were bought) and later Jaguars
SEPECAT Jaguar
The SEPECAT Jaguar is an Anglo-French jet ground attack aircraft, originally used by the British Royal Air Force and the French Armée de l'Air in the close air support and nuclear strike role, and still in service with several export customers, notably the Indian Air Force and the Royal Air Force...
(which were however never ordered).
Before the Yom Kippur War
Yom Kippur War
The Yom Kippur War, Ramadan War or October War , also known as the 1973 Arab-Israeli War and the Fourth Arab-Israeli War, was fought from October 6 to 25, 1973, between Israel and a coalition of Arab states led by Egypt and Syria...
, the IQAF sent 12 Hawker Hunter
Hawker Hunter
The Hawker Hunter is a subsonic British jet aircraft developed in the 1950s. The single-seat Hunter entered service as a manoeuvrable fighter aircraft, and later operated in fighter-bomber and reconnaissance roles in numerous conflicts. Two-seat variants remained in use for training and secondary...
s to Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
where they stayed to fight; only 1 survived the war. The IQAF first received their Sukhoi Su-7
Sukhoi Su-7
The Sukhoi Su-7 was a swept wing, supersonic fighter aircraft developed by the Soviet Union in 1955. Originally, it was designed as tactical, low-level dogfighter, but was not successful in this role. On the other hand, soon-introduced Su-7B series became the main Soviet fighter-bomber and...
s in 1968; they were originally stationed in Syria
Syria
Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....
. Aircraft deployed to Syria
Syria
Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....
suffered heavy losses due to Israeli aircraft and SAMs. In addition, they were hit with friendly fire
Friendly fire
Friendly fire is inadvertent firing towards one's own or otherwise friendly forces while attempting to engage enemy forces, particularly where this results in injury or death. A death resulting from a negligent discharge is not considered friendly fire...
from Syrian SAMs. A planned attack on the 8th of October was canceled due to these heavy losses as well as disagreements with the Syrian government. Eventually, all aircraft besides several Sukhoi Su-7
Sukhoi Su-7
The Sukhoi Su-7 was a swept wing, supersonic fighter aircraft developed by the Soviet Union in 1955. Originally, it was designed as tactical, low-level dogfighter, but was not successful in this role. On the other hand, soon-introduced Su-7B series became the main Soviet fighter-bomber and...
s were withdrawn from bases in Syria. During the war in October 1973, the first air strike against Israeli bases in Sinai
Sinai Peninsula
The Sinai Peninsula or Sinai is a triangular peninsula in Egypt about in area. It is situated between the Mediterranean Sea to the north, and the Red Sea to the south, and is the only part of Egyptian territory located in Asia as opposed to Africa, effectively serving as a land bridge between two...
was composed of Iraqi planes; they hit artillery sites and Israeli tanks, and they also claimed to have destroyed 21 Israeli fighters in air combat. Shortly after the war, the IQAF ordered 14 Tu-22Bs and two Tu-22Us from the USSR as well as Raduga Kh-22
Raduga Kh-22
The Raduga Kh-22 is a large, long-range anti-ship missile developed by the Soviet Union. It was intended for use against US Navy aircraft carriers and carrier battle groups, with either a conventional or nuclear warhead.-Development:...
missiles from Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
. By 1975, 10 Tu-22Bs and 2 Tu-22Us were delivered.
The 1970s also saw a series of fierce Kurdish uprisings in the north of the country against Iraq. With the help of the Shah of Iran, the Kurds received arms and supplies including modern SAMs as well as some Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
ian soldiers. The IQAF suffered heavy casualties fighting the Kurds, so they began using their new Tu-22s in combat against them (using 3 tonne bombs from high altitude to avoid the Iranian HAWK SAM
MIM-23 Hawk
The Raytheon MIM-23 Hawk is a U.S. medium range surface-to-air missile. The Hawk was initially designed to destroy aircraft and was later adapted to destroy other missiles in flight. The missile entered service in 1960, and a program of extensive upgrades has kept it from becoming obsolete. It was...
batteries that the Shah had set up near the Iraqi border to cover the Kurdish insurgents. as they were able to avoid a greater percentage of SAMs due to their Higher bombing altitude and improved Electronic Countermeasures. During the mid-1970s, tensions with Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
were high but was later resolved with the Algiers Treaty
Algiers Agreement (1975)
The 1975 Algiers Agreement was an agreement between Iran and Iraq to settle their border disputes , and served as basis for the bilateral treaties signed on 13 June and 26 December 1975...
.
1980s and war with Iran
Between 1980 and the summer of 1990, the number of combat aircraft in the IQAF went from 332 to over 950. Before the Iraqi invasion of IranIran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
, the IQAF had expected 16 modern Dassault Mirage F.1EQs from France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and were also in the middle of receiving a total of 240 new aircraft and helicopters from their Eastern European allies. When Iraq invaded Iran in late September 1980, the Soviets and the French stopped delivery of additional aircraft to Iraq but resumed deliveries a few months later.
The IQAF had to instead fight with obsolete Su-20, MiG-21 Fishbeds and MiG-23 Floggers. The MiG-21 was the main interceptor
Interceptor aircraft
An interceptor aircraft is a type of fighter aircraft designed specifically to prevent missions of enemy aircraft, particularly bombers and reconnaissance aircraft. Interceptors generally rely on high speed and powerful armament in order to complete their mission as quickly as possible and set up...
of the force while their MiG-23s were used for ground attack and interception. the Su-20 were pure ground attack aircraft. These aircraft were still no match for the Iranian F-4 Phantoms and F-14 Tomcat
F-14 Tomcat
The Grumman F-14 Tomcat is a supersonic, twin-engine, two-seat, variable-sweep wing fighter aircraft. The Tomcat was developed for the United States Navy's Naval Fighter Experimental program following the collapse of the F-111B project...
s, however. On the first day of the war, a formation of MiG-23s and MiG-21s raided airports and airfields of the Iranian Air Force
Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force
The Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force ' is the aviation branch of the Iranian armed forces. The present Air Force came into being in the early 1980s when the former Imperial Iranian Air Force was renamed....
, but the Iranian aircraft were not heavily damaged because of strong concrete hangars that housed the planes. In retaliation for these aerial attacks, the Iranian Air Force launched Operation Kaman 99
Operation Kaman 99
Operation Kaman 99 was an operation launched by the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force in retaliation to Iraqi surprise aerial attacks on Iran the day before which marked the beginning of the 8-year-long Iran–Iraq War.-Prelude:...
a day after the war was launched.
During late 1981, it was soon clear that the modern Mirage F-1s and the Soviet MiG-25s were effective against the Iranians, though they suffered considerable losses to Iranian interceptors.. The IQAF began to use their new Eastern weaponry which included Tu-22KD/KDP bombers, equipped with Kh-22M/MP air-to-ground missiles, MiG-25s equipped with Kh-25
Kh-25
The Kh-25/Kh-25M is a family of Soviet lightweight air-to-ground missiles with a modular range of guidance systems and a range of 10 km. The anti-radar variant is known to NATO as the AS-12 'Kegler and has a range up to 40 km. Designed by Zvezda-Strela, the Kh-25 is derived from the...
air-to-ground missiles as well as Kh-25
Kh-25
The Kh-25/Kh-25M is a family of Soviet lightweight air-to-ground missiles with a modular range of guidance systems and a range of 10 km. The anti-radar variant is known to NATO as the AS-12 'Kegler and has a range up to 40 km. Designed by Zvezda-Strela, the Kh-25 is derived from the...
and Kh-58
Kh-58
The Kh-58 is a Russian anti-radiation missile with a range of 120 km. the Kh-58U variant was still the primary anti-radiation missile of Russia and her allies. It is being superseded by the Kh-31.-Development:...
anti-radar missiles and even MiG-23BNs, equipped with Kh-29L/T
Kh-29
The Kh-29 is a Soviet air-to-surface missile with a range of 10–30 km. It has a large warhead of 320 kg, has a choice of laser, infrared, active radar or TV guidance, and is typically carried by tactical aircraft such as the Su-24, Su-30, MiG-29K as well as the "T/TM" models of the...
missiles. In 1983, to satisfy the Iraqis waiting for their upgraded Exocet-capable Mirage F-1EQ5s, Super Etendards were leased to Iraq. The Iranian gunboats and the Iranian oil tanker fleet suffered severe damage at the hand of the 5 Super Etendards equipped with Exocet
Exocet
The Exocet is a French-built anti-ship missile whose various versions can be launched from surface vessels, submarines, helicopters and fixed wing aircraft. Hundreds were fired in combat during the 1980s.-Etymology:...
anti ship missiles. One of these was lost during their 20 month combat use and 4 returned to the Aeronavale in 1985 interceptors
Interceptor aircraft
An interceptor aircraft is a type of fighter aircraft designed specifically to prevent missions of enemy aircraft, particularly bombers and reconnaissance aircraft. Interceptors generally rely on high speed and powerful armament in order to complete their mission as quickly as possible and set up...
.
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
, it had bombed airfields in Tehran
Tehran
Tehran , sometimes spelled Teheran, is the capital of Iran and Tehran Province. With an estimated population of 8,429,807; it is also Iran's largest urban area and city, one of the largest cities in Western Asia, and is the world's 19th largest city.In the 20th century, Tehran was subject to...
and other Iranian cities. The air force had a more successful role attacking tankers and other vessels using Exocet
Exocet
The Exocet is a French-built anti-ship missile whose various versions can be launched from surface vessels, submarines, helicopters and fixed wing aircraft. Hundreds were fired in combat during the 1980s.-Etymology:...
missiles on their French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
built Mirage F-1s. On May 17, 1987, an Iraqi F-1 mistakenly launched two Exocet anti-ship missiles into the American frigate USS Stark
USS Stark (FFG-31)
USS Stark , 23rd ship of the Oliver Hazard Perry class of guided-missile frigates, was named for Admiral Harold Rainsford Stark ....
crippling the vessel and killing 37 sailors.
By 1987, the air force consisted of 40,000 men, of whom about 10,000 were a part of the Air Defense Command. Its main base was in Tammuz (Al Taqqadum), Al Bakr (Balad
Balad, Iraq
Balad is a city north of Baghdad in the Salah ad Din Governorate Iraq. It is located within the borders of the so-called Sunni Triangle; however, Balad is a primarily Shiite town of approximately 100,000...
), Al Qadisiya (Al Asad
Al Asad
Al Asad Airbase is the second largest US military airbase in Iraq and is located in the largely Sunni western Province of Iraq Al Anbar. It was formerly the home of the II Marine Expeditionary Force until January 2010...
), Ali Air Base
Ali Air Base
Ali Air Base is a military airbase located near Nasiriyah, Iraq. It is also known as Tallil Air Base. At present, the base is being used by United States Armed Forces. It is called Camp Adder by the U.S. Army; the name "Ali Air Base" is used chiefly by the U.S...
, Saddam Airbase (Qayarrah West) and other major bases including Basra
Basra
Basra is the capital of Basra Governorate, in southern Iraq near Kuwait and Iran. It had an estimated population of two million as of 2009...
. The IQAF operated from 24 main operating bases and 30 dispersal bases, with nuclear-hardened shelters and extensive runways. At the end of the war, the IQAF played a significant role in halting Iran's last military offensive, resulting in Iraq's relative success in this bloody and prolonged conflict.
Notable Iraqi Pilots of the Iran-Iraq War
Unlike many other nations with modern air forces, Iraq was engaged in a long and protracted war. The 8 year long conflict with IranIran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
gave the Air Force the opportunity to develop some battle-tested and hardened fighter pilots. Though information about the IQAF is, at best, hard to access, two men stand out as the best Iraqi fighter ace
Fighter Ace
Fighter Ace was a massively multiplayer online computer game in which one flies World War II fighter and bomber planes in combat against other players and virtual pilots...
s.
Mohommed Rayyan
Mohommed Rayyan
Colonel Mohommed Rayyan, nicknamed "Sky Falcon," was a fighter pilot with the Iraqi Air Force during the Iran-Iraq War. He claimed 10 air combat kills, making him an ace and the most successful Iraqi fighter pilot of that war....
, nicknamed "Sky Falcon," claimed 10 air combat kills, making him a flying ace
Flying ace
A flying ace or fighter ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down several enemy aircraft during aerial combat. The actual number of aerial victories required to officially qualify as an "ace" has varied, but is usually considered to be five or more...
and the most successful Iraqi fighter pilot
Fighter pilot
A fighter pilot is a military aviator trained in air-to-air combat while piloting a fighter aircraft . Fighter pilots undergo specialized training in aerial warfare and dogfighting...
of that war and of all-time. While only a Lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
and flying a MiG-21MF, claimed two (later confirmed) kills against Iranian F-5E Tiger IIs in 1980. Later a Captain, he qualified on the MiG-25P in 1981 and scored 8 more victories (2 verified by western sources.) His 8 air combat victories make Rayyan the most successful MiG-25 fighter pilot ever.
Captain Omar Goben was another successful fighter pilot. While flying a MiG-21 he scored air kills against two F-5E Tiger IIs and one F-4E Phantom II in 1980. He later transferred to the MiG-23 and survived the war, but was killed in January 1991 flying a MiG-29 versus an American F-15C
F-15 Eagle
The McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle is a twin-engine, all-weather tactical fighter designed by McDonnell Douglas to gain and maintain air superiority in aerial combat. It is considered among the most successful modern fighters with over 100 aerial combat victories with no losses in dogfights...
.
1990s- Persian Gulf War and no-fly zones
In August 1990, IraqIraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
had one of the largest air forces in the region even after the long Iran–Iraq War. The air force at that time contained more than 500 aircraft in their inventory. Theoretically, the IQAF should have been 'hardened' by the conflict with Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
, but post-war purges of the IQAF leadership and other personnel decimated the air force, as the Iraqi regime struggled to bring it back under total control. Training was brought to the minimum during the whole of 1990.
The table below shows the Iraqi Air Force at the start of the Gulf War, its losses, damaged aircraft, flights to Iran and remaining assets at the end of the Gulf War. This is a combination of losses both in the air (23 aircraft) and on the ground (227 aircraft) and exclude the helicopters and aircraft that belonged to Iraqi Army Aviation, Iraqi Navy and the Aviation wing of the Iraqi Department of Border Enforcement.
| Aircraft | 1990 | destroyed | damaged | to Iran | survived |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Mirage F1EQ |
76 | 23 | 6 | 24 | 23 |
| Mirage F1K (Kuwaiti) |
8 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 |
 MiG-23BN |
38 | 17 | 0 | 4 | 18 |
| Su-20 |
18 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 8 |
| Su-22R |
10 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 9 |
| Su-22M2 |
24 | 2 | 6 | 5 | 11 |
| Su-22M3 |
16 | 7 | 0 | 9 | 0 |
| Su-22M4 |
28 | 7 | 0 | 15 | 6 |
| Su-24MK |
30 | 5 | 0 | 24 | 1 |
| SU-25 |
66 | 31 | 8 | 7 | 20 |
MiG-21/ F7Chengdu J-7 The Chengdu Jian-7 is a People's Republic of China-built version of the Soviet Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21. Though production ceased in 2008 it continues to serve, mostly as an interceptor, in several air forces, including China's.-Design and development:... |
236 | 65 | 46 | 0 | 115 |
| MiG-23ML |
39 | 14 | 1 | 7 | 17 |
| MiG-23MF |
14 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 7 |
| MiG-23MS |
15 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 9 |
| MiG-25RB |
9 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| MiG-25PDS |
19 | 13 | 1 | 0 | 5 |
| MiG-29 |
37 | 17 | 4 | 4 | 12 |
| MiG-23UM |
21 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 12 |
| Tu-16 |
3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Xian H-6 Xian H-6 The Xian H-6 is a license-built version of the Soviet Tupolev Tu-16 twin-engine jet bomber, built for the Chinese People's Liberation Army Air Force.... |
4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| AN-26 |
5 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 |
| Il-76 |
19 | 3 | 1 | 15 | 0 |
| dassault Falcon 20 Dassault Falcon 20 The Dassault Falcon 20 is a French business jet and was the first of a family of business jets built by Dassault Aviation.-Design and development:... |
2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| dassault Falcon 50 Dassault Falcon 50 |-See also:-References:* Taylor, John W R. . Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1988-89. Coulsdon, Surrey, UK:Jane's Information Group. ISBN 0-7106-0867-5.-External links:* *... |
3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
 Lockheed JetstarLockheed JetStar The Lockheed JetStar is a business jet produced from the early 1960s through the 1970s. The JetStar was the first dedicated business jet to enter service. It was also one of the largest aircraft in the class for many years, seating ten plus two crew... |
6 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| MiG-25U |
7 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Su-22-UM3 |
25 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 21 |
 L-39 |
67 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 66 |
 TucanoEmbraer EMB 312 Tucano The Embraer EMB 312 Tucano is a two seat turboprop basic trainer developed in Brazil. The prototype first flew in 1980 and initial production units were delivered in 1983. The Tucano family of aircraft became one of Embraer's first international marketing successes, with 600 units produced... |
78 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 64 |
 FFA AS-202 BravoFFA AS-202 Bravo -See also:-External links:* * *... |
34 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 17 |
| Eloris trainer | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 |
 Jet Provost |
15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 |
  BK-117 |
14 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
During the 1991 Persian Gulf War
Gulf War
The Persian Gulf War , commonly referred to as simply the Gulf War, was a war waged by a U.N.-authorized coalition force from 34 nations led by the United States, against Iraq in response to Iraq's invasion and annexation of Kuwait.The war is also known under other names, such as the First Gulf...
, the Iraqi Air Force was devastated by the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and their allies. Most airfields were heavily struck, and in air combat Iraq was only able to obtain four confirmed kills (and 4 damaged and one probable kill), while sustaining 23 losses. All of the out of service (six) Tupolev Tu-22
Tupolev Tu-22
The Tupolev Tu-22 was the first supersonic bomber to enter production in the Soviet Union. Manufactured by Tupolev, the Tu-22 entered service with the Soviet military in the 1960s, and the last examples were retired during the 1990s...
s that Iraq possessed were destroyed by bombing at the start of Operation Desert Storm, though they had already been withdrawn from the inventory of the Iraqi Air Force and were simply used as decoys and do not appear on the operational list of lost aircraft from the Iraqi Air Force (like all other old aircraft which were used solely to deflect raids from operational assets).
The MiG-25 force (NATO reporting name
NATO reporting name
NATO reporting names are classified code names for military equipment of the Eastern Bloc...
'Foxbat') recorded the first Iraqi air-to-air kill during the war. A Mig-25PDS shot down an US Navy F/A-18 Hornet
F/A-18 Hornet
The McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet is a supersonic, all-weather carrier-capable multirole fighter jet, designed to dogfight and attack ground targets . Designed by McDonnell Douglas and Northrop, the F/A-18 was derived from the latter's YF-17 in the 1970s for use by the United States Navy and...
on the first night of the war. In 2009 the Pentagon announced they had identified the remains of the pilot, US Navy Captain Michael “Scott” Speicher
Scott Speicher
Michael Scott Speicher was a United States Navy pilot who was shot down over Iraq during the Gulf War. He was the first American combat casualty of the conflict. His remains were not recovered until Aug. 2, 2009...
, solving an 18-year mystery. Captain Speicher, who was a Lieutenant Commander at the time, was apparently buried by nomadic Bedouin tribesmen close to where his jet was shot down in a remote area of Anbar province.
The second air-air kill was recorded by a pilot named Jameel Sayhood on January nineteenth. Flying a MIG-29 he shot down a Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
Tornado GR.1A
Panavia Tornado
The Panavia Tornado is a family of twin-engine, variable-sweep wing combat aircraft, which was jointly developed and manufactured by the United Kingdom, West Germany and Italy...
. The RAF aircraft was piloted by Flight Lieutenant Gary Lennox, and Flight Lieutenant Adrian Weeks.
In another incident, an Iraqi Foxbat-E eluded eight USAF F-15C Eagles
F-15 Eagle
The McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle is a twin-engine, all-weather tactical fighter designed by McDonnell Douglas to gain and maintain air superiority in aerial combat. It is considered among the most successful modern fighters with over 100 aerial combat victories with no losses in dogfights...
, firing three missiles at a USAF EF-111 electronic warfare aircraft, forcing them to abort their mission. In yet another incident, two MiG-25's approached a pair of F-15 Eagles, fired missiles (which were evaded by the F-15s), and then out-ran the American fighters. Two more F-15s joined the pursuit, and a total of ten air-to-air missiles were fired at the Foxbats; none of which could reach them.
In an effort to demonstrate their own air offensive capability, on 24 January the Iraqis attempted to mount a strike against the major Saudi oil refinery in Abqaiq. Two Mirage F-1 fighters laden with incendiary bombs and two MiG-23s (along as fighter cover) took off from bases in Iraq. They were spotted by USAF E-3 Sentry
E-3 Sentry
The Boeing E-3 Sentry is an airborne warning and control system developed by Boeing as the prime contractor. Derived from the Boeing 707, it provides all-weather surveillance, command, control and communications, and is used by the United States Air Force , NATO, Royal Air Force , French Air Force...
AWACS aircraft, and two Royal Saudi Air Force F-15s were sent to intercept. When the Saudis appeared the Iraqi MiGs turned tail, but the Mirages pressed on. Captain Iyad Al-Shamrani, one of the Saudi pilots maneuvered his jet behind the Mirages and shot down both aircraft. After this episode, the Iraqis made no more air efforts of their own, sending most of their jets to Iran in hopes that they might someday get their air force back. (Iran never returned the jets.)
The ethnic Assyrian
Assyrian people
The Assyrian people are a distinct ethnic group whose origins lie in ancient Mesopotamia...
Air Vice Marshall Georges Sada
Georges Sada
General Georges Hormiz Sada is an Iraqi of Assyrian descent, an author and retired general officer of the Iraqi Air Force....
was sacked and imprisoned by Saddam Hussain for refusing to execute prisoners of war.
During the Persian Gulf War, most Iraqi pilots and aircraft (of French & Soviet origin) fled to Iran to escape the bombing campaign because no other country would allow them sanctuary. The Iranians impounded these aircraft after the war and never returned them, putting them in the service of the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force
Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force
The Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force ' is the aviation branch of the Iranian armed forces. The present Air Force came into being in the early 1980s when the former Imperial Iranian Air Force was renamed....
– claiming them as reparations for the Iran–Iraq War. Because of this Saddam Hussein
Saddam Hussein
Saddam Hussein Abd al-Majid al-Tikriti was the fifth President of Iraq, serving in this capacity from 16 July 1979 until 9 April 2003...
did not send the rest of his Air Force to Iran just prior to Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003, instead opting to bury them in sand. Saddam Hussein, preoccupied with Iran and regional power balance, is reported to have had commented: "The Iranians are even stronger than before, they now have our Air Force."
These included: Mirage F1s, Su-20 and Su-22M2/3/4 Fitters, Su-24MK Fencer-Ds, Su-25K/UBK Frogfoots, MiG-23 Floggers, MiG-29A/UB Fulcrums and a number of Il-76s, including the one-off AEW-AWACS prototype Il-76 "ADNAN 1". Also, prior to Operation Desert Storm, ten Iraqi MiG-23s were sent to Yugoslavia for servicing, but were never returned due to the Yugoslav War.
Persian Gulf War aircraft losses claimed by the Allies
| Aircraft | Origin | No. Shot Down | No. To Iran Iran Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia... |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 The Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 is a supersonic jet fighter aircraft, designed by the Mikoyan-Gurevich Design Bureau in the Soviet Union. It was popularly nicknamed "balalaika", from the aircraft's planform-view resemblance to the Russian stringed musical instrument or ołówek by Polish pilots due to... |
Soviet Union Soviet Union The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991.... |
4 | 0 |
| Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23 Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23 The Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23 is a variable-geometry fighter aircraft, designed by the Mikoyan-Gurevich design bureau in the Soviet Union. It is considered to belong to the Soviet third generation jet fighter category, along with similarly aged Soviet fighters such as the MiG-25 "Foxbat"... |
Soviet Union Soviet Union The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991.... |
9 | 12 |
| Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-25 Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-25 The Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-25 is a supersonic interceptor and reconnaissance aircraft that was among the fastest military aircraft to enter service. Designed by the Soviet Union's Mikoyan-Gurevich bureau the first prototype flew in 1964 with entry into service in 1970... |
Soviet Union Soviet Union The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991.... |
2 | 7 |
| Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-29 | Soviet Union Soviet Union The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991.... |
6 | 4 |
| Dassault Mirage F-1 | France France The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France... |
9 | 24 |
| Sukhoi Su-7 Sukhoi Su-7 The Sukhoi Su-7 was a swept wing, supersonic fighter aircraft developed by the Soviet Union in 1955. Originally, it was designed as tactical, low-level dogfighter, but was not successful in this role. On the other hand, soon-introduced Su-7B series became the main Soviet fighter-bomber and... /17 Sukhoi Su-17 The Sukhoi Su-17 is a Soviet attack aircraft developed from the Sukhoi Su-7 fighter-bomber. It enjoyed a long career in Soviet, later Russian, service and was widely exported to communist and Middle Eastern air forces, under names Su-20 and Su-22.-Development:Seeking to improve low-speed and... |
Soviet Union Soviet Union The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991.... |
4 | 0 |
| Sukhoi Su-20 | Soviet Union Soviet Union The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991.... |
0 | 4 |
| Sukhoi Su-22 | Soviet Union Soviet Union The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991.... |
2 | 40 |
| Sukhoi Su-24 Sukhoi Su-24 The Sukhoi Su-24 is a supersonic, all-weather attack aircraft developed in the Soviet Union. This variable-sweep wing, twin-engined two-seater carried the USSR's first integrated digital navigation/attack system... |
Soviet Union Soviet Union The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991.... |
0 | 24 |
| Sukhoi Su-25 Sukhoi Su-25 The Sukhoi Su-25 is a single-seat, twin-engine jet aircraft developed in the Soviet Union by the Sukhoi Design Bureau. It was designed to provide close air support for the Soviet Ground Forces. The first prototype made its maiden flight on 22 February 1975... |
Soviet Union Soviet Union The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991.... |
2 | 7 |
| Ilyushin Il-76 Ilyushin Il-76 The Ilyushin Il-76 is a multi-purpose four-engined strategic airlifter designed by Ilyushin design bureau. It was first planned as a commercial freighter in 1967. Intended as a replacement for the Antonov An-12, the Il-76 was designed for delivering heavy machinery to remote, poorly-serviced areas... |
Soviet Union Soviet Union The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991.... |
1 | 15 |
| Mil Mi-8 Mil Mi-8 The Mil Mi-8 is a medium twin-turbine transport helicopter that can also act as a gunship. The Mi-8 is the world's most-produced helicopter, and is used by over 50 countries. Russia is the largest operator of the Mi-8/Mi-17 helicopter.... |
Soviet Union Soviet Union The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991.... |
1 | 0 |
| Observation helicopter | 1 | 0 | |
| U/I helicopter | 1 | 0 | |
| Total Number Loss | 44 | 137 |
The Iraqi airforce itself lists its air-to-air losses at 23 airframes compared to the US claims of 44. Similarly the Allies initially acknowledged 0 losses in air combat to the Iraqi air force, and only in 1995 acknowledged one loss, and after 2003 another one loss a further two Iraqi claims and one probable are still listed by the Allies as lost to "ground fire" rather than an Iraqi fighter.
As well as the Persian Gulf war, the IQAF was also involved in the 1991 uprisings in Iraq
1991 uprisings in Iraq
The 1991 uprisings in Iraq were a series of anti-governmental rebellions in southern and northern Iraq during the aftermath of the Gulf War. The revolt was fueled by the perception that the power of Iraqi President Saddam Hussein was vulnerable at the time; as well as by heavily fueled anger at...
. Alongside Army aviation Mi-8
Mil Mi-8
The Mil Mi-8 is a medium twin-turbine transport helicopter that can also act as a gunship. The Mi-8 is the world's most-produced helicopter, and is used by over 50 countries. Russia is the largest operator of the Mi-8/Mi-17 helicopter....
, Mi-24, Gazelle, Alouette and Puma helicopters were used to counter the attempted Shi'ite and Kurdish revolts between 1991 and 1993.
After the Persian Gulf War, the air force consisted only of a sole SU-24 (nicknamed "waheeda" in the Iraqi airforce which translates to roughly "the lonely") and a single squadron of MiG-25s purchased from the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
in 1979, Some Mirages, MiG23ML and SU22s also remained in use with the MiG29s being withdrawn from use by 1995 due to engine TBO limits and MiG21s withdrawn due to obsolescence. During the period of sanctions that followed, the Air Force was severely restricted by no-fly zone
No-fly zone
A no-fly zone is a territory or an area over which aircraft are not permitted to fly. Such zones are usually set up in a military context, somewhat like a demilitarized zone in the sky, and usually prohibit military aircraft of a belligerent nation from operating in the region.-Iraq,...
s established by the coalition and by restricted access to spare parts due to United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
sanctions. Many aircraft were unserviceable and a few were hidden from American reconnaissance to escape potential destruction. In patrols of the no-fly zones, three Iraqi MiGs were lost. Despite several attacks from U.S. F-15s
F-15 Eagle
The McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle is a twin-engine, all-weather tactical fighter designed by McDonnell Douglas to gain and maintain air superiority in aerial combat. It is considered among the most successful modern fighters with over 100 aerial combat victories with no losses in dogfights...
and F-14
F-14 Tomcat
The Grumman F-14 Tomcat is a supersonic, twin-engine, two-seat, variable-sweep wing fighter aircraft. The Tomcat was developed for the United States Navy's Naval Fighter Experimental program following the collapse of the F-111B project...
s firing AIM-54 and AIM-120 missiles at the Iraqi fighters, the Iraqi maneuvers ensured they were able to avoid any casualties in their dispute over Iraqi airspace. The last recorded air-to-air kill was on 23 December 2002, when a MiG-25 Foxbat shot down an American RQ-1 Predator
RQ-1 Predator
The General Atomics MQ-1 Predator is an unmanned aerial vehicle used primarily by the United States Air Force and Central Intelligence Agency...
.
Recent information released by the DTIC containing the top-secret archives of the defunct Iraqi Airforce sheds light on the true losses and operations of the airforce during 1991.
That information is basically the "top secret" records of the Iraqi Air Force that were never publicised but were captured by the US in 2003 and translated by the US military and have been available in the public domain for a couple of years.
Interesting details about the Iraqi Air Force from this one compilation of official Iraqi Air Force documents include:
page 47. – Recon photo of al Khafji in Saudi Arabia taken by a MiG-25 in August 1990, confirming Iraqi overflights of Saudi Arabia.
page 61. Confirmation that the USAF AC-130 was downed with an SA-16 surface-to-air missile.
page 119-120 – Iraqi Mig-25s flew 4 recon flights over Kuwait in July 1990.
page 126. – Unwitting Russian participation in the Iraqi navy attack “[t]here were Russian experts on board for the purpose of training the [missile boat] crews.”
page 127 – During the invasion, Kuwaiti patrol boat managed to hit an Iraqi missile boat. The Iraqi missile boats (both of them) had non-functional weapons.
page 129 – During the invasion, an Iraqi Super Frelon helicopter supposed to support the naval assault was shot down by an I-HAWK surface-to-air missile.
page 132- According to the IRAF, during the invasion the Kuwaiti af flew 14 attack and 6 air defence sorties on the second of August.
page 133-4 : During the Iraqi military's 1995 "lessons learned" conference, the chief blame for failure to capture the al-Sabah
Al-Sabah
The House of Al Sabah is the ruling family of Kuwait. They are a clan from the Anizah tribe which migrated to Kuwait in the early 18th century from Najd . They are also from the Utub tribe. After reaching Kuwait, they entered in an alliance with the other families of the Utub such as Al-Khalifa...
s was placed on the Iraqi Air Force.
page 135: During the invasion, 3-4 army aviation helicopters were destroyed by the Kuwaiti Air Force, but many more were lost by collision with powerlines and collisions with each other during landing by flying at night in large formations and without night training or night vision goggles (NVGs).
page 221: During the Gulf War, there was a plan of attack on aircraft carriers. Nevertheless, the planners determined that if they were ordered to try “the best way to disrupt the operation of the aircraft carrier,” which was to use 18 Sukhoi-22 M4 aircraft carrying 12 C28L [Kh-28] missiles, four Mirage F-1 aircraft carrying AIM-39 missiles, and 12 Mirage aircraft carrying AS-30 missiles. Of the 34 aircraft required for the mission, “...only 12 of them will reach the target and [these] won’t come back after their duty is over.” Moreover, the study continued, “The loss of 34 advanced ground attack planes to disrupt one aircraft carrier out of [the] nine carriers mobilized by the enemy in the region was ineffective.”
Also on the same page, there seems to have been no plan for the Iran evacuation plan before January 1991.
on page 223: Kuwaiti I-HAWK battery was deployed for the defence of Iraq's nuclear reactor. Iraq managed to briing into operation two of the four Kuwaiti batteries.
page 246 – the use of camels to resupply the 25th infantry division in the desert.
page 273 – The Iraqi Mirages sent to strike Ras Tanura made an aerial refueling along the Iran border at 100m altitude. The allies had initially thought them armed for an anti-shipping strike when in fact they were to bomb the oil terminals with Beluga cluster bombs.
page 280 – Describes the situation with the Iraqi Navy boats that tried to escape to Iran, confirming that 6 boats were sunk (21 claimed by the US) and that three boats reached Iran (one OSA, one Polnocny and the T43). 20 sailors died on the boats that sank and 68 were taken as POWs.
page 372: The major accomplishments of the Iraqi Air Force were measured in assets not lost. As the study noted “as a result of the competent measures our air force took to minimize the losses whether before or after the aggression, we were able to achieve the following”
Seventy-five percent of all combat and specialized planes were “rescued.” The report notes that this percent does not include “planes destroyed as a result of ground operations and riot.” By comparison, the study continues, “the losses of the Arab forces in the 1967 War, on the Egyptian front, were approximately 70 percent of the operating forces” and the “Zionist air power” then was much less than what Iraq faced in 1991.
The Air Force “rescued” 92% of all of the air weapons as a result of “concealment and dissemination.” More than 98% of the “expensive guided weapons” were also saved.
Seventy six percent of the “very expensive electronic war equipment” was preserved.
“The losses in personnel amounted to .096 percent and it is a small percentage...”
On page 374, interesting details about the use of jet engines to create dust storms to defend against air attacks, and their limitations in use.
page 376. Analysis of coalition attacks effectiveness. Percentage of the targets hit: 57%.
Percentage of “guided projectiles” [precision munition]: 45%.
“The enemy did not apply the technique of comprehensive regional bombardment. Only the vital areas of the targets were bombed.”
“The enemy succeeded in destroying most of the secured aircraft bunkers and command and control centers using guided aerial (1,000 kg) bombs, which proved the fragility of these bunkers.” The report added, however that “the air defense command centers, which were designed as strikeproof entities, remained intact and unaffected.”
“The targets that efficiently applied smoke and dust were exposed to severe raids and bombing, more than necessary to destroy it...”
“The principle of equipment dispersal emerged as effective, as it lessened the losses. [This] was particularly apparent when aircraft were dispersed outside their specified bunkers.
page 377: 65% of Iraq's SA-2 and SA-6 missile sites were destroyed, 26% of SA-3 batteries and 120 radar stations, only the low altitude rolands seemed to have survived well (7% loss). and by the end of the war had exhausted 98% of their SA-2 missiles.
Iraq had actually retained 3 I-HAWK batteries from Kuwait (not 2 as stated in an earlier page), and 2 of these survived.
Final Iraqi claims on coalition are 44 aircraft and 120 cruise missiles downed. including 4 confirmed kills in air combat with a further 4 damaged and 1 probable.
page 378. Indicates that during the first three days Iraqi interceptors flew 42 combat interceptions and downed 6 aircraft. quite the shocking claim.
Most surprisingly, the report noted that “after assessing that intercept operations were in vain, coupled with the expected losses, [the pilots] were not convinced and were afraid to carry out their missions (as many aircraft were destroyed moments after takeoff).”
They state that only the I-HAWK missiles could deal with multiple targets and the Strelas proved effective against cruise missiles. first i read about this.
page 393. Iraq's total ground force losses in the war: “1,772 tanks, 939 [Armored Personnel] Carriers, and 1,474 cannon (these are about HALF what the coalition claimed initially).
Page 394 – Shows Iraq's preoccupation with countering the US Army Apache helicopters. The doctrine that grew out of this was actually rather effective in the Battle of Karbala
Battle of Karbala (2003)
The Battle of Karbala took place during the 2003 invasion of Iraq as American troops fought to clear the city of Iraqi forces. The city had been bypassed during the advance on Baghdad, leaving American units to clear it in two days of street fighting against Iraqi irregular forces.-Bypassing the...
in 2003.
page 398-399: Iraq's targets in Israel:
“The ministry of defense and the army chief of staff’s building in Tel Aviv.”
“The main communications station in Tel Aviv.”
“The al-Khudayrah Power Station.”
“The industrial area of Tel Aviv.”
“The gasoline refinery in Haifa.”
“The technology institute in Haifa.”
“The Haifa naval base.”
“Haifa and Tel Aviv ports.”
“Ben Gurion Airport.”
“The Dimona [nuclear] reactor.”
page 402: Details of Iraq's three ballistic missile "deception battalions" that operated using the same procedures as the "live" battalions, and still the coallition didn't hit any of the deception launchers. It seems Iraq hid its 14 real launchers among 78 "deception" vehicles. and none of them were hit.
Air to air combat
Iraq claims to have lost a total of 23 aircraft in air to air combat and made the following claims:4 kills:
17 January, 96th Sqn MiG-25PDS flown by Zuhair Dawood used R40RD to shoot down USN F/A-18C flown by Speicher.
19 January, 6th Sqn MiG-29 flown by Jameel Sayhood
Jameel Sayhood
Captain Jameel Sayhood was an Iraqi pilot in the Gulf War who it is claimed managed to attain one of the few aerial victories by the Iraqi Air Force in his MiG-29B, before being shot down by USAF Captain Craig Underhill and Captain Cesar Rodriguez with their F-15Cs mere minutes after his air-air...
used R60MK to shot down RAF Tornado GR1A flown by Lennox/Weeks
2 other confirmed kills by 96th Sqn MiG-25PDS DETAILS UNKNOWN.
1 probable:
DETAILS UNKNOWN
4 damaged:
17 January, 63rd Sqn, MiG-23ML flown by Hussam used R24T to damage USAF F-111F of the 48th TFW
17 January, 63rd Sqn, MiG-23ML used an R24T to damage USAF F-111F of the 48th TFW (serial 70-2384)
17 January, 6th Sqn, MiG-29 flown by Khudair Hijab used R60MK to damage USAF F-111F of the 48th TFW
17 January, 6th Sqn, MiG-29 flown by Khudair Hijab used an R27R to damage USAF B-52 of the 4300th Provisional BW flown by Mason/Linwood.
Operation Iraqi Freedom – 2003
Yugoslavs
Yugoslavs is a national designation used by a minority of South Slavs across the countries of the former Yugoslavia and in the diaspora...
weapons company provided servicing for the MiG-21s and MiG-23s, violating the UN sanctions. An aviation institute in Bijeljina
Bijeljina
Bijeljina is a city and municipality in northeastern Bosnia and Herzegovina. The city is the second largest in the Republika Srpska entity after Banja Luka and fifth largest city in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and is situated on the flat rich plains of Semberija...
, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina , sometimes called Bosnia-Herzegovina or simply Bosnia, is a country in Southern Europe, on the Balkan Peninsula. Bordered by Croatia to the north, west and south, Serbia to the east, and Montenegro to the southeast, Bosnia and Herzegovina is almost landlocked, except for the...
, supplied the engines and spare parts. These however, were too late to improve the condition of Iraq's air force.
On the brink of the US led invasion
2003 invasion of Iraq
The 2003 invasion of Iraq , was the start of the conflict known as the Iraq War, or Operation Iraqi Freedom, in which a combined force of troops from the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and Poland invaded Iraq and toppled the regime of Saddam Hussein in 21 days of major combat operations...
, Saddam Hussein disregarded his air force's wishes to defend the country's airspace against coalition aircraft and ordered the bulk of his fighters disassembled or buried. Air Vice Marshal Abed Hamed Mowhoush
Abed Hamed Mowhoush
Abed Hamed Mowhoush was a major general / air vice-marshal believed to be in command of the Iraqi Air Force or Iraqi air defence during the regime of Saddam Hussein immediately prior to the 2003 Invasion of Iraq, until his surrender to United States forces on 10 November 2003. He died on 26...
was apparently the air force commander immediately prior to the war. Some were later found by US excavation forces around the Al Taqqadum and Al Asad
Al Asad
Al Asad Airbase is the second largest US military airbase in Iraq and is located in the largely Sunni western Province of Iraq Al Anbar. It was formerly the home of the II Marine Expeditionary Force until January 2010...
air bases, including MiG-25s and Su-25s. The IQAF proved to be totally non-existent during the invasion; a few helicopters were seen but no fighters flew to combat coalition aircraft.
During the occupation phase, most of Iraq's combat aircraft (mainly MiG-23s, MiG-25s and Su-25s) were found by American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and Australian forces in poor condition at several air bases throughout the country while others were discovered buried. Most of the IQAF's aircraft were destroyed during and after the invasion, and all remaining equipment was junked or scrapped in the immediate aftermath of the war. None of the aircraft acquired during Saddam's time remained in service.
Post-Invasion to Present
2003 invasion of Iraq
The 2003 invasion of Iraq , was the start of the conflict known as the Iraq War, or Operation Iraqi Freedom, in which a combined force of troops from the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and Poland invaded Iraq and toppled the regime of Saddam Hussein in 21 days of major combat operations...
, is being rebuilt as part of the overall program to build a new Iraqi defense force. The newly created air force consisted only of 35 people in 2004 when it began operations.
In December 2004, the Iraqi ministry of defense signed two contracts with the Polish defence consortium BUMAR. The first contract, worth 132 million USD, was for the delivery of 20 PZL W-3 Sokół helicopters and the training of 10 Iraqi pilots and 25 maintenance personnel. They were intended to be delivered by November 2005, but in April 2005 the company charged with fulfilling the contract announced the delivery would not go ahead as planned, because the delivery schedule proposed by PZL Swidnik was not good enough. As a result only 2 were delivered in 2005 for testing.
The second contract, worth 105 million USD, consisted of supplying the Iraqi air force with 24 second-hand Russian-made, re-worked Mi-17
MI-17
MI-17 can refer to:* Mil Mi-17, Soviet helicopter*M-17...
(Hips). As of 2008, 8 have been delivered and 2 more are on their way. The fleet of Hips is already operational. The Mi17s are reported to have some attack capability.
The Air Force primarily serves as a light reconnaissance and transport operation. On March 4, 2007, the IQAF carried out its first medical evacuation in the city of Baghdad when an injured police officer was airlifted to a hospital.
In 2007, the USAF's Second Air Force
Second Air Force
The Second Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Air Education and Training Command . It is headquartered at Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi....
, part of Air Education and Training Command
Air Education and Training Command
Air Education and Training Command was established July 1, 1993, with the realignment of Air Training Command and Air University. It is one of the U.S. Air Force's ten major commands and reports to Headquarters, United States Air Force....
, was given responsibility to provide curricula and advice to the Iraqi Air Force as it stands up its own technical training and branch specific basic training among others. This mission is known as "CAFTT" for Coalition Air Forces Training Team.
During the 2008 Battle of Basra the Iraqi Air Force planned, executed, and monitored 104 missions in support of Iraqi ground security forces in Basra during Operation Charge of the Knights in the Basra area between March 25 and April 1.
In 2009 the first of several Iraqi officers completed their flying training at RAF Cranwell
RAF Cranwell
RAF Cranwell is a Royal Air Force station in Lincolnshire close to the village of Cranwell, near Sleaford. It is currently commanded by Group Captain Dave Waddington...
, a development with echos of the Iraqi Air Force's early beginnings.
On April 29, 2009 the first 3 of an unspecified number of Beech 350 Super King Air light transport airplanes arrived at London-Luton airport on delivery to the Iraqi Air Force.
On August 30, 2009 the Iraq Defense Ministry revealed that they had discovered 19 Soviet Mig-21 and MiG-23 aircraft that had been stored in Serbia. Saddam Hussein sent the 19 jet fighters to Serbia for repairs in the 1980s, during the Iran-Iraq war but was unable to bring them back after sanctions had been imposed on his country. The Serbian Government promised to make two of the aircraft available “for immediate use,” and would proceed to restore the remaining aircraft on a rush basis.
Future
Utva Lasta
-See also:-References:*Taylor, John W R. . Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1988-89. Coulsdon, Surrey, UK: Jane's Information Group, 1988...
basic trainers. It is speculated that Iraq may buy 50 Aérospatiale Gazelle
Aérospatiale Gazelle
The Aérospatiale Gazelle is a five-seat light helicopter, powered by a single turbine engine. It was designed and manufactured in France by Sud Aviation . It was also manufactured under licence by Westland Aircraft in the United Kingdom , by SOKO in Yugoslavia and ABHCO in Egypt...
attack helicopters from France. In July 2008, Iraq had formally requested an order for 24 light attack and reconnaissance helicopters. The aircraft would either be the U.S. Army's new ARH-70 helicopter or the more popular MH-6 Little Bird
MH-6 Little Bird
The MH-6 Little Bird , and its attack variant AH-6, are light helicopters used for special operations in the United States Army. Originally based on a modified OH-6A, it was later based on the MD 500E, with a single five-bladed main rotor...
.
On October 14, 2008, Aviation Week reported that two hellfire
AGM-114 Hellfire
The AGM-114 Hellfire is an air-to-surface missile developed primarily for anti-armor use. It has multi-mission, multi-target precision-strike capability, and can be launched from multiple air, sea, and ground platforms. The Hellfire missile is the primary 100 lb-class air-to-ground precision...
-equipped Cessna 208Bs were spotted at an ATK facility in Meacham Airport, Fort Worth, Texas. The Iraqi air force is due to receive 3 armed Cessna Caravans in December 2008, with two more to be delivered in 2009. This represents the first IAQF strike capability since the start of the war in 2003.
The Iraqi government announced in November 2008 that the Iraqi Air Force would purchase 108 aircraft through 2011. Ultimately the force will consist of up to 516 total aircraft by 2015, then 550 total aircraft by 2018. Specific types being purchased included Eurocopter EC 635 and Bell ARH-70 type helicopters. Additionally, 24 T-6 Texan II
T-6 Texan II
The Beechcraft T-6 Texan II is a single-engined turboprop aircraft built by the Raytheon Aircraft Company . Based on the Pilatus PC-9, the T-6 is used by the United States Air Force for basic pilot training and by the United States Navy for Primary and Intermediate Joint Naval Flight Officer and...
aircraft would be purchased for the light attack role.
Over the summer of 2008, the Defense Department announced that the Iraqi government wanted to order more than 400 armored vehicles and other equipment worth up to $3 billion, and six C-130J transport planes, worth up to $1.5 billion.
There are set talks to buy Czech made combat aircraft Aero L-159 ALCA.
Iraq's air space will be unguarded from December 2011 until 18 F-16 jet fighters and their pilots are ready two years later. November 2011, there are currently six Iraqi F-16 candidates in the U.S. for different phases of pilot training. These students will form the core of Iraq's future F-16 force.
Air Force commanders
- 1936, Muhammed Ali Jawad
- 1941, Mahmud Salman
- 1963, Hardan al-TikritiHardan al-TikritiHardan ’Abdul Ghaffar al-Tikriti was a senior Iraqi Air Force commander, Iraqi politician and ambassador who was assassinated on the orders of Saddam Hussein, the then vice chairman of the Iraqi Revolutionary Command Council....
- 1968, Jassam Mohammed al-Shahir
- 1973–1976, BrigadeBrigadeA brigade is a major tactical military formation that is typically composed of two to five battalions, plus supporting elements depending on the era and nationality of a given army and could be perceived as an enlarged/reinforced regiment...
Nima Al Dulaimi - 1978–1983, Mohamed Jessam Al-Jeboury
- 1985, Air MarshalAir MarshalAir marshal is a three-star air-officer rank which originated in and continues to be used by the Royal Air Force...
Hamid Sha'aban - 1990 Muzahim Hassan al-Tikriti
- Khaldoon Khattab
- mid-1990s to 2003, Hamid Raja ShalahHamid Raja ShalahHamid Raja, also known as Hamid Raja-Shalah Hassan al-Tikriti or Hamid Raja-Shalah Hassum al-Tikriti was a commander of the Iraqi Air Force under Saddam Hussein....
- 2006– Kamal Barzanji
- 2008–present Anwar Hamad Ameen
Order of battle
The Iraqi Air Force consists of nine squadrons and one training wing:- Flight Training Wing – The flight training wing operates mostly fixed wing aircraft such as the T-6A, Cessna 172Cessna 172The Cessna 172 Skyhawk is a four-seat, single-engine, high-wing fixed-wing aircraft. First flown in 1955 and still in production, more Cessna 172s have been built than any other aircraft.-Design and development:...
, Cessna 208Cessna 208The Cessna 208 Caravan is a single turboprop engine, fixed-gear short-haul regional airliner and utility aircraft built in the United States by Cessna. The airplane typically seats nine passengers, with a single person crew, although with a FAR Part 23 waiver, it can seat up to fourteen passengers...
and Beechcraft King Air 350Beechcraft Super King AirThe Beechcraft Super King Air family is part of a line of twin-turboprop aircraft produced by the Beech Aircraft Corporation . The King Air line comprises a number of model series that fall into two families: the Model 90 series, Model 100 series , Model 200 series and Model 300 series...
. Wing including 1st and 12th Squadrons is moving from KirkukKirkukKirkuk is a city in Iraq and the capital of Kirkuk Governorate.It is located in the Iraqi governorate of Kirkuk, north of the capital, Baghdad...
to Tikrit.- 1st Flight Training Squadron – The Iraqi Air Force's primary fixed wing training squadron operating 4 T-6A, 12 Cessna 172Cessna 172The Cessna 172 Skyhawk is a four-seat, single-engine, high-wing fixed-wing aircraft. First flown in 1955 and still in production, more Cessna 172s have been built than any other aircraft.-Design and development:...
and 5 Cessna 208Cessna 208The Cessna 208 Caravan is a single turboprop engine, fixed-gear short-haul regional airliner and utility aircraft built in the United States by Cessna. The airplane typically seats nine passengers, with a single person crew, although with a FAR Part 23 waiver, it can seat up to fourteen passengers...
. It is based in Tikrit. - 12th Flight Training Squadron – A training squadron currently operating 10 Bell 206Bell 206The Bell 206 is a family of two-bladed, single- or twin-engine helicopters, manufactured by Bell Helicopter at its Mirabel, Quebec plant. Originally developed as the Bell YOH-4 for the United States Army's Light Observation Helicopter program, the 206 failed to be selected...
helicopters. Based at KirkukKirkukKirkuk is a city in Iraq and the capital of Kirkuk Governorate.It is located in the Iraqi governorate of Kirkuk, north of the capital, Baghdad...
.
- 1st Flight Training Squadron – The Iraqi Air Force's primary fixed wing training squadron operating 4 T-6A, 12 Cessna 172
- 2nd Squadron – A helicopter airliftAirliftAirlift is the act of transporting people or cargo from point to point using aircraft.Airlift may also refer to:*Airlift , a suction device for moving sand and silt underwater-See also:...
squadron operating sixteen UH-1H Huey II helicopterHelicopterA helicopter is a type of rotorcraft in which lift and thrust are supplied by one or more engine-driven rotors. This allows the helicopter to take off and land vertically, to hover, and to fly forwards, backwards, and laterally...
s donated by JordanJordanJordan , officially the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan , Al-Mamlaka al-Urduniyya al-Hashemiyya) is a kingdom on the East Bank of the River Jordan. The country borders Saudi Arabia to the east and south-east, Iraq to the north-east, Syria to the north and the West Bank and Israel to the west, sharing...
. The helicopters were refurbished and upgraded by the United StatesUnited StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and delivered in 2006–2007. It is based in Taji. - 3rd Squadron – A reconnaissanceReconnaissanceReconnaissance is the military term for exploring beyond the area occupied by friendly forces to gain information about enemy forces or features of the environment....
squadron operating 8 Cessna 208 CaravanCessna 208The Cessna 208 Caravan is a single turboprop engine, fixed-gear short-haul regional airliner and utility aircraft built in the United States by Cessna. The airplane typically seats nine passengers, with a single person crew, although with a FAR Part 23 waiver, it can seat up to fourteen passengers...
reconnaissance aircraft. Its base is in the city of KirkukKirkukKirkuk is a city in Iraq and the capital of Kirkuk Governorate.It is located in the Iraqi governorate of Kirkuk, north of the capital, Baghdad...
. - 4th Squadron – A helicopter airlift squadron operating 30 Mil Mi-17Mil Mi-17The Mil Mi-17 is a Russian helicopter currently in production at two factories in Kazan and Ulan-Ude...
helicopters. It is based in Taji. - 15th SOF Squadron – A helicopter squadron being formed specifically for the ISOFIraqi Special Operations ForcesIraqi Special Operations Forces refers to the Iraqi special forces unit created by Coalition forces after the 2003 invasion. As of November 2009, the forces, directed by the Iraqi Counter-Terrorist Bureau, consist of the Iraqi Counter-Terrorist Command, which has two brigades subordinate to it...
. The unit consists of 26 Mi-17-v5Mil Mi-17The Mil Mi-17 is a Russian helicopter currently in production at two factories in Kazan and Ulan-Ude...
helicopters. - 23rd Squadron23rd Squadron (Iraq)The 23rd Squadron of the Iraqi Air Force is an air transport squadron operating three C-130 Hercules transport aircraft.The squadron was reactivated in 2005, as part of the reconstruction of the Iraqi Security Forces following the 2003 invasion of Iraq. It received three C-130Es formerly operated...
– An airlift squadron operating 3 ex-USAF C-130E Hercules transport aircraft. Its base is at New Al Muthana Air Base located at Baghdad International AirportBaghdad International AirportBaghdad International Airport, originally Saddam International Airport, , BIAP is Iraq's largest airport, located in a suburb about west of downtown Baghdad in the Baghdad Governorate...
. - 70th Squadron70th Squadron (Iraq)The 70th Squadron is one of two reconnaissance squadrons of the Iraqi Air Force . The 70th Squadron is based in Basra and is responsible for securing the southern Iraqi border and protecting Iraqi infrastructure. It currently consists of 12 CH2000 reconnaissance/ liaison aircraft...
– A reconnaissanceReconnaissanceReconnaissance is the military term for exploring beyond the area occupied by friendly forces to gain information about enemy forces or features of the environment....
squadron operating 16 CH-2000AMD Alarus|-See also:-External links:**...
light reconnaissance aircraft. It is based in Basrah. - 87th Squadron – A light transport and reconnaissance squadron currently operating the Beechcraft King Air 350Beechcraft Super King AirThe Beechcraft Super King Air family is part of a line of twin-turboprop aircraft produced by the Beech Aircraft Corporation . The King Air line comprises a number of model series that fall into two families: the Model 90 series, Model 100 series , Model 200 series and Model 300 series...
. It is based at New Al Muthana Air Base. - Technical Training Wing – Based at Taji.
Current inventory
! style="text-align:left; background:#acc;"|Aircraft
! style="text-align:left; background:#acc;"|Origin
! style="text-align:left; background:#acc;"|Type
! style="text-align:left; background:#acc;"|Versions
! style="text-align:left; background:#acc;"|In service
! style="text-align:left; background:#acc;"|Notes
|-
| colspan="7" style="text-align:center;"|Trainer Aircraft
|-
| Aero L-159 ALCA || || jet trainer/ light fighter || L-159B || 0 || Possible sale or oil trade of either 24 or 36 aircraft from Czech
Czech Air Force
The Czech Air Force is the air force branch of the Armed Forces of the Czech Republic. The Air Force, with the Land Forces, comprises the Joint Forces, the main combat power of the Armed Forces of the Czech Republic...
surplus.
|-
| Bell 206 JetRanger
Bell 206
The Bell 206 is a family of two-bladed, single- or twin-engine helicopters, manufactured by Bell Helicopter at its Mirabel, Quebec plant. Originally developed as the Bell YOH-4 for the United States Army's Light Observation Helicopter program, the 206 failed to be selected...
|| || utility/ training helicopter || 206B || 10 ||
|-
| Bell 407
Bell 407
The Bell 407 is a four-blade, single-engine, civil utility helicopter; a derivative of the Bell 206L-4 LongRanger. The 407 uses the four-blade rotor with composite hub developed for the United States Army's OH-58D Kiowa Warrior instead of the two-blade, semi-rigid rotor of the 206L-4...
|| || conversion training helicopter || T-407 || 3 || To be used as training helicopter for the armed versions.
|-
| Bell OH-58 Kiowa
OH-58 Kiowa
The Bell OH-58 Kiowa is a family of single-engine, single-rotor, military helicopters used for observation, utility, and direct fire support. Bell Helicopter manufactured the OH-58 for the United States Army based on the 206A JetRanger helicopter. The OH-58 has been in continuous use by the U.S...
|| || utility/ training helicopter || OH-58C || 10 || On loan from US Army
|-
| Cessna 172 Skyhawk || || utility/ basic training || || 18 || Option for up to 28 total aircraft
|-
| Cessna 208 Caravan
Cessna 208
The Cessna 208 Caravan is a single turboprop engine, fixed-gear short-haul regional airliner and utility aircraft built in the United States by Cessna. The airplane typically seats nine passengers, with a single person crew, although with a FAR Part 23 waiver, it can seat up to fourteen passengers...
|| || utility/ training || TC208 || 5 ||
|-
| Hawker Beechcraft T-6 Texan II
T-6 Texan II
The Beechcraft T-6 Texan II is a single-engined turboprop aircraft built by the Raytheon Aircraft Company . Based on the Pilatus PC-9, the T-6 is used by the United States Air Force for basic pilot training and by the United States Navy for Primary and Intermediate Joint Naval Flight Officer and...
|| || training || T-6A || 15 || Option for up to 20 aircraft.
|-
| Ikarus C42
Ikarus C42
-See also:-External links:* * *...
|| || utility/ basic training || || ? || Used by the Peshmerga
Peshmerga
Peshmerga or Peshmerge is the term used by Kurds to refer to armed Kurdish fighters. Literally meaning "those who face death" the Peshmerga forces of Kurdistan have been in existence since the advent of the Kurdish independence movement in the early 1920s, following the collapse of the Ottoman...
.
|-
| UTVA Lasta 95
Utva Lasta
-See also:-References:*Taylor, John W R. . Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1988-89. Coulsdon, Surrey, UK: Jane's Information Group, 1988...
|| || basic training/ light attack || || 20 || Delivered between Dec. 2010 and Mar. 2011.
|-
| colspan="7" style="text-align:center;"|Fighter Aircraft
Fighter aircraft
A fighter aircraft is a military aircraft designed primarily for air-to-air combat with other aircraft, as opposed to a bomber, which is designed primarily to attack ground targets...
|-
| Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcon || || Multirole Fighter Aircraft || F-16IQ (Block 50/52) || 0 || Initial payment for 18 aircraft made September 2011.
|-
| colspan="7" style="text-align:center;"|Transport Aircraft
Cargo aircraft
A cargo aircraft is a fixed-wing aircraft designed or converted for the carriage of goods, rather than passengers. They are usually devoid of passenger amenities, and generally feature one or more large doors for the loading and unloading of cargo...
|-
| Antonov An-32
Antonov An-32
The Antonov An-32 is a twin-engined turboprop military transport aircraft.-Design and development:The An-32 is basically a re-engined An-26. The launch customer was the Indian Air Force, which ordered this aircraft partly due to good relations between then USSR leader Leonid Brezhnev and then...
|| || medium transport || An-32B || 1 || First two aircraft accepted by Iraq in November 2011, first delivered November 18. Five still on order.
|-
| Beechcraft King Air 350
Beechcraft Super King Air
The Beechcraft Super King Air family is part of a line of twin-turboprop aircraft produced by the Beech Aircraft Corporation . The King Air line comprises a number of model series that fall into two families: the Model 90 series, Model 100 series , Model 200 series and Model 300 series...
|| || light/ VIP transport || 350ER || 24 || All operated by 87th sqn.
|-
| Lockheed C-130 Hercules || || tactical airlift/ transport || C-130E
C-130-J30 || 3
0 || ex-USAF, 6 C-130-J30
C-130J Super Hercules
The Lockheed Martin C-130J "Super" Hercules is a four-engine turboprop military transport aircraft. The C-130J is a comprehensive update of the venerable Lockheed C-130 Hercules, with new engines, flight deck, and other systems. The Hercules family has the longest continuous production run of any...
versions to be delivered.
|-
| colspan="7" style="text-align:center;"|Reconnaissance Aircraft
Surveillance aircraft
A surveillance aircraft is an aircraft used for surveillance — collecting information over time. They are operated by military forces and other government agencies in roles such as intelligence gathering, battlefield surveillance, airspace surveillance, observation , border patrol and fishery...
|-
| Beechcraft King Air 350
Beechcraft Super King Air
The Beechcraft Super King Air family is part of a line of twin-turboprop aircraft produced by the Beech Aircraft Corporation . The King Air line comprises a number of model series that fall into two families: the Model 90 series, Model 100 series , Model 200 series and Model 300 series...
|| || surveillance and reconnaissance || 350ISR || 10 ||
|-
| Cessna 208 Caravan
Cessna 208
The Cessna 208 Caravan is a single turboprop engine, fixed-gear short-haul regional airliner and utility aircraft built in the United States by Cessna. The airplane typically seats nine passengers, with a single person crew, although with a FAR Part 23 waiver, it can seat up to fourteen passengers...
|| || ground surveillance/ strike || RC/AC208 || 8|| 3 armed with Hellfire missiles.
|-
| SAMA CH2000
AMD Alarus
|-See also:-External links:**...
|| || liaison || || 16 ||
|-
| Seabird SBL-360 Seeker
Seabird Seeker
-External links:* *...
|| || Observation/ liaison || SB7L-360A || 2 ||Both aircraft upgraded with Westar reconnaissance sensors and returned to service in 2009.
|-
| colspan="7" style="text-align:center;"|Helicopters
|-
| Bell UH-1H Iroquois || || light-lift utility helicopter || Huey II || 16 || 2nd Squadron. Used for medivac
Medivac
Medivac may refer to:* medical evacuation* Medivac , an Australian television series...
/ search and rescue.
|-
| Bell Armed 407
Bell 407
The Bell 407 is a four-blade, single-engine, civil utility helicopter; a derivative of the Bell 206L-4 LongRanger. The 407 uses the four-blade rotor with composite hub developed for the United States Army's OH-58D Kiowa Warrior instead of the two-blade, semi-rigid rotor of the 206L-4...
|| || reconnaissance/ light attack helicopter || IA-407 || 0 || 24 helicopters to be delivered by 2011. Option for additional 26 helicopters TBD through 2012.
|-
| Eurocopter EC 635 || || light attack/ utilitiy helicopter || || 2 || 24 helicopters to be delivered by 2011. Option for additional 26 helicopters TBD through 2012. First deliveries in January 2010.
|-
| Aérospatiale SA 342 Gazelle
Aérospatiale Gazelle
The Aérospatiale Gazelle is a five-seat light helicopter, powered by a single turbine engine. It was designed and manufactured in France by Sud Aviation . It was also manufactured under licence by Westland Aircraft in the United Kingdom , by SOKO in Yugoslavia and ABHCO in Egypt...
|| || light attack/ utility helicopter || SA 342L || 6 || 24 Purchased from French surplus, first deliveries in May 2010. Option for up to 50 total.
|-
| Mil Mi-17 Hip-H
Mil Mi-17
The Mil Mi-17 is a Russian helicopter currently in production at two factories in Kazan and Ulan-Ude...
|| || medium-lift transport helicopter || Mi-171E
Mi-8T
Mi-17-v5 || 22
2?
16 || 14 additional helicopters not operational. One crashed with 5 KIA. Mi-8T
Mil Mi-8
The Mil Mi-8 is a medium twin-turbine transport helicopter that can also act as a gunship. The Mi-8 is the world's most-produced helicopter, and is used by over 50 countries. Russia is the largest operator of the Mi-8/Mi-17 helicopter....
being refurbished under contract in Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
.
|-
| Total || || || || 220? || ~529 expected total
|}
| UAV | ||||
| Name | Type | Quantity | Origin | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RQ-11 Raven | Light / Short range reconna | 12 | ||
Possible sales and acquisitions
- The Iraqi government is seeking the return of 7-11 MiG-23's sent to Yugoslavia in 1989; they will need to be refurbished if they are returned to service.
- The Iraqi government is seeking the return of 8-12 MiG-21's sent to Yugoslavia in 1989; they will need to be refurbished if they are returned to service.
On November 19, 2009, the US DSCA announced a formal request from the Iraqi government to buy up to 27 light and medium utility helicopters, in a deal whose possible value is set at $1.2 billion.
The Government of Iraq has requested a possible sale in a couple of categories. The Light Utility Observation category already fits the EC635, which reportedly has an option for additional helicopters in the contract. Candidates in the DSCA request include up to:
- 15 AgustaWestland AW 109s or
- 15 Bell 429Bell 429The Bell 429 is a light, twin-engine helicopter developed by Bell Helicopter and Korea Aerospace Industries, based on the Bell 427. First flight of the Bell 429 prototype took place on February 27, 2007, and received type certification on July 1, 2009. The Bell 429 is capable of single-pilot IFR...
Medical Evacuation and Aerial Observation helicopters; or - 15 EADS UH-72 Lakota Light Utility helicopters, which won America’s LUH competition; MEDEVAC is one of their roles.
In the medium utility category, candidates include:
- 12 AgustaWestland AW139AgustaWestland AW139The AgustaWestland AW139 is a 15-seat medium sized twin-engined helicopter manufactured by AgustaWestland. Originally designed and developed jointly by Agusta and Bell Helicopters and marketed as the Agusta-Bell AB139, it was redesignated the AW139 when Bell withdrew from the project...
Medium Utility helicopters; or - 12 Bell 412Bell 412The Bell 412 is a utility helicopter manufactured by Bell Helicopter. It is a development of the Bell 212 model, the major difference being the composite four-blade main rotor.-Design and development:...
s, which would possess many similarities to Iraq’s less-advanced Huey-IIs; or - 12 Sikorsky UH-60M Black HawkSikorsky UH-60 Black HawkThe UH-60 Black Hawk is a four-bladed, twin-engine, medium-lift utility helicopter manufactured by Sikorsky Aircraft. Sikorsky submitted the S-70 design for the United States Army's Utility Tactical Transport Aircraft System competition in 1972...
helicopters equipped with 24 T700-GE-701D engines. The UH-60M is the most modern version of the Black Hawk, and is currently produced for all buyers under a large multi-year American military contract.
However this could be delayed, for reasons that go beyond the standard 30-day Congressional blocking period. A drop in global oil prices from their recent $100+/bbl highs has affected Iraq’s budgets, and delayed a number of existing military purchases. This combination of budget issues, and a rigid agreement concerning the end of America’s combat presence in Iraq, has left the Iraqi government in a position where it is unlikely to be able to properly enforce the military mandates it will assume. American and Iraqi personnel have been assessing what is possible by 2011–2012, and what might be done. Prioritization of requests will be especially tight in this environment.
Throughout 2010 and 2011, the Iraqi government and the MoI announced intentions to buy Dassault Mirage F1
Dassault Mirage F1
The Dassault Mirage F1 is a French air-superiority fighter and attack aircraft designed and built by Dassault Aviation as a successor of the Mirage III family. The Mirage F1 entered service in the French Air Force in the early seventies...
and F-16C
F-16 Fighting Falcon
The General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon is a multirole jet fighter aircraft originally developed by General Dynamics for the United States Air Force . Designed as an air superiority day fighter, it evolved into a successful all-weather multirole aircraft. Over 4,400 aircraft have been built since...
Block 52 fighters. Whereby the Iraqi cabinet specified a sum of $900m as a first installment of $3b worth of aircraft, equipment, spare parts, and training.
The deal to buy the F-16 fighters seemed to teeter as the GoI reversed its decision on the 12th of February and wanted to divert the initial sum of $900m to economic reconstruction.
However, on the 12th of July 2011, the GoI re-iterated its interest in the F-16s due to the pending withdrawal of American forces from Iraq, and some sources indicate that the GoI is interested in doubling the number of fighters to be purchased to 36.
See also
- Iraqi Security ForcesIraqi Security ForcesThe Iraqi Armed Forces are the military forces of the Government of Iraq. They consist of the Iraqi Army, the Iraqi Air Force, and the Iraqi Navy....
- Abed Hamed MowhoushAbed Hamed MowhoushAbed Hamed Mowhoush was a major general / air vice-marshal believed to be in command of the Iraqi Air Force or Iraqi air defence during the regime of Saddam Hussein immediately prior to the 2003 Invasion of Iraq, until his surrender to United States forces on 10 November 2003. He died on 26...
- Iran–Iraq War in the Air 1980–1988
Further reading
- Sean Boyle, 'Iraqi boasts air defence network,' Jane's Intelligence ReviewJane's Intelligence ReviewJane's Intelligence Review is a monthly journal on military intelligence published by Jane's Information Group . Its coverage includes international security issues, ongoing conflicts, organized crime, and weapons proliferation....
, June 2002, p. 2-4