Iraqi Air Force

Iraqi Air Force
T-6A Texan II of the Iraqi Air Force
Founded	April 22, 1931
Country	Iraq
Allegiance	Iraqi Security Forces
Branch	Air Force
Size	Approx. 1,600 personnel[1][2]/ 102 aircraft as of April 2010.
Anniversaries	April 22 (Air Force Day)[3]
Engagements	Anglo-Iraqi War Six-Day War Yom Kippur War Iran–Iraq War Invasion of Kuwait Gulf War 1991 uprisings in Iraq Iraqi no-fly zones Iraq War
Commanders
Current commander	Staff Lt Gen Anwar Hamad Amin
Insignia
Fin Flash
Aircraft flown
Reconnaissance	CH 2000, Ce 208 ISR, KA 350 ISR
Trainer	Ce172, Ce 208, T-6A, Bell 206B, OH-58C, Utva Lasta 95
Transport	C-130E, KA 350ER, Mi-17, UH-1H

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.

It was first founded in 1931, when Iraq was under British rule, with a handful of pilots and continued to operate British aircraft until the 14 July Revolution in 1958, where 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.

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 Kingdom.^[3] 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.^[4] 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.^[3] The original five pilots were Natiq Mohammed Khalil al-Tay, Mohammed Ali Jawad, Hafdhi Aziz, Akrem Talib Mushtaq, and Musa Ali.^[3] During the early years of the Royal Iraqi Air Force, it mainly received aircraft from the United Kingdom as well as Breda BA65 attack planes and SM-79 bombers from Italy.^[4]

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.^[5]

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 Sidqi, where it suffered its first combat loss. Its first combat against another conventional military was in the 1941 Anglo-Iraqi War, and then in 1948 in their war against the newly-created state of Israel.^[4] During the Anglo-Iraqi War, the RIrAF under Rashid Ali received aid from the Luftwaffe to fight the British. When the First Arab-Israeli War erupted, the RIrAF was still recovering from its destruction by the British^[4] . Even though the RIrAF still contained a modern aircraft inventory, the RIrAF played a small role in the first war against Israel. In 1948 to 1949 the RIrAF dispatched Avro Anson training-bombers to Jordan, from where these flew a number of attacks against the Israelis^[4] . Part of the Ansons were replaced by the more modern fighter the Hawker Fury. These aircraft flew only two missions against Israel in Iraqi markings before most of the available examples were given to the Egyptians.^[4] All together 14 Hawker Furies were delivered but only 6 were operational by the 7 of June, 1948.^[4] Despite all these early problems the RIrAF was to continue purchasing Furies, and acquired a total of 38 F.Mk.1s, and 4 two-seaters.^[4] The only claimed aircraft kill of the Fury belonging to the RIrAF was an Israeli Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress bomber.^[4] The IQAF also received the first 3 de Havilland Dove VIP-transports which entered in 1951.^[4]

1950s and early 1960s

Iraqi Air Force De Havilland Vampire FB.52 before delivery in 1953

During the 1950s, the RIrAF went through a series of important developments where their monarchy government was toppled in 1958 resulting in the change of arms imports from countries.^[4] From 1950 to 1958 most of the RIrAF aircraft were from the United Kingdom. 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.^[4] In 1954 and 1956, a total of 19 de Havilland Vampire jet fighters were delivered, and with the help of U.S. funding, 14 ex-RAF Hawkers were delivered.^[4] They also received 4 obsolete Bristol 170 Freighters in 1953.^[4]

After the 14 July Revolution in 1958, when the King of Iraq was overthrown, the country increased diplomatic and political relationships with the Warsaw Pact countries, while simultaneously severed relations with western nations.^[4] The Iraqi Air Force (IQAF) dropped "Royal" from its name after the revolution.^[4] The Communists were swift to start supplying MiG-17s, and later MiG-19 and MiG-21 fighters, as well as Ilyushin Il-28 bombers to the new Iraqi government.^[4] 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 Vampires. It is possible that during the late 1960s and or early 1970s for a few additional MiG-17 examples were purchased and then forwarded to either Syria or Egypt.^[4] The IQAF received about 50 MiG-19s during the early 1960s but most of these aircraft were never assembled from their crates and subsequently re-delivered to Egypt, Iraq only ever operating a single squadron (6th sqn) of around 18 MiG19P and missile armed MiG19PMs 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 Roufa flew his MiG-21F-13 to Israel. Two years later, Israel gave his MiG-21F-13 to the United States for evaluation under the code-name "Have Donut".^[6] However by that time all the MiG21-F13s had been replaced by MiG21FL and PFM in the Iraqi air force's frontline units with the MiG21-F13s used only for Operational Conversion.

Another coup in 1963 brought Iraq closer to the NATO powers, and as a result, more second-hand Hawker Hunters were ordered by the IQAF.^[4] For several years aircraft imports from the Communist Eastern European nations ceased—until 1966, where a batch of MiG-21PF interceptors was purchased from the Soviet Union.^[4] after the death in an accident of Abdelsalam Aref.

Six-Day War

During the Six-Day War 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.^[3] As well, the Iraqi Air Force had one Pakistani pilot Saiful Azzam 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.^[4] Due to Hunters and MiG21PFMs the IQAF were successfully able to defend their air bases in western Iraq from additional Israeli attacks.^[4] On the same day the IQAF also were able to break through Israeli air spaces and destroyed five Israeli aircraft in air fighting.^[3]

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 French to sell Mirage F-1s fighters (which were bought) and later Jaguars (which were however never ordered).^[4]

Before the Yom Kippur War, the IQAF sent 12 Hawker Hunters to Egypt where they stayed to fight; only 1 survived the war.^[4] The IQAF first received their Sukhoi Su-7s 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-7s 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.^[7] 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 Iranian 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 setup 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.^[4] During the mid-1970s, tensions with Iran were high but was later resolved with the Algiers Treaty.

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.^[3] Before the Iraqi invasion of Iran, 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 Communists and the French stopped delivery of additional aircraft to Iraq but resumed deliveries a few months later.^[8]

The IQAF had to instead fight with obsolete SU-20/22s MiG-21 Fishbeds and MiG-23 Floggers.^[8] The MiG-21 was the main interceptor of the force while their MiG-23s were used for ground attack and interception. the SU 20/22 were pure ground attack aircraft. These aircraft were still no match for the Iranian F-4 Phantoms and F-14 Tomcats, 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 hangers 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..^[8] 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.^[8] 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.^[8]

USS Stark listing following two hits by Iraqi Exocet missiles

While the IQAF generally played a minor role in the war against Iran, it had bombed airfields in Tehran and other Iranian cities.^[3] 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.^[3]

By 1987, the air force consisted of 40,000 men, of whom about 10,000 were a part of the Air Defense Command.^[3] 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.^[3] 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.^[3]

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 Iran 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 aces.

Mohommed Rayyan, nicknamed "Sky Falcon," claimed 10 air combat kills, making him an 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.^[9] Later a Captain, he qualified on the MiG-25P in 1981 and scored 8 more victories (2 verified by western sources.)^[9] 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.^[9]

1990s- Persian Gulf War and no-fly zones

In August 1990, Iraq 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 decimated the air force, as the Iraqi regime struggled to bring it back under total control.^[8] Training was brought to the minimum during the whole of 1990.

The table below shows the Iraqi airforce 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) ^[10] 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.^[11]

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 ^[10] . All of the out of service (six) Tupolev Tu-22s 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 American F/A-18 on the first night of the war. In 2009 the Pentagon announced they had identified the remains of the pilot, Navy Captain Michael “Scott” Speicher, solving an 18-year mystery. Captain Speicher 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 RAF Tornado GR.1A. The RAF plane was piloted by Gary Lennox, and Adrian Weeks.^[12]

In another incident, an Iraqi Foxbat-E eluded eight American F-15s, firing three missiles at an 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 US AWACs, 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, only sending most of their jets to Iran in hopes that they might someday get their air force back. (Iran never returned the jets.) ^[13]

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^[14] -- 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 their burial 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."^[15]

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.

Abandoned Iraqi FT-7 in front of the Al Asad ATC Tower.

An Iraqi MiG-29 aircraft lies in ruins after it was destroyed by Allied forces during Operation Desert Storm.

Persian Gulf War aircraft losses claimed by the Allies^[16]

Aircraft	Origin	No. Shot Down	No. To Iran
Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21	Soviet Union	4	0
Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23	Soviet Union	9	12
Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-25	Soviet Union	2	7
Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-29	Soviet Union	6	4
Dassault Mirage F-1	France	9	24
Sukhoi Su-7/17	Soviet Union	4	0
Sukhoi Su-20	Soviet Union	0	4
Sukhoi Su-22	Soviet Union	2	40
Sukhoi Su-24	Soviet Union	0	24
Sukhoi Su-25	Soviet Union	2	7
Ilyushin Il-76	Soviet Union	1	15
Mil Mi-8	Soviet Union	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^[10] 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. This dramatically changes the initial view in the west that the Allied pilots achieved a 44:0 kill ratio against Iraqi pilots, whereas today the ratio is settling at between 23:4 and 23:5 kill ratio.^[10]

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 zones 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-14s 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.^[17]

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.^[11]

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 airforce from this one compilation of official Iraqi air force documents include:

page 47. - Recon photo of al khafji in Saudi Arabia taken by a MiG25 in August 1990. - Confirming Iraqi overflights of Saudi Arabia.

page 61. confirmation that the AC-130 was downed with SA16.

page 119-120 - Iraqi mig25s 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 [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 supposed to support the naval assault was shot down by an i-hawk.

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 chief blame for failure to capture the al-sabahs was on the Iraqi air force.

page 135: During the invasion 3-4 army aviation helicopters were destroyed by Kuwaiti af. 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 NVGs.

page 221: During the gulf war, 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” was to use 18 Sukhoi-22 M4 planes carrying 12 C28L [Kh-28] missiles, four Mirage F-1 planes carrying AIM-39 missiles, and 12 Mirage planes 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 air to air 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 Navy boats that tried to escape to Iran. confirming that 6 boats were sunk (21 claimed by the US) and that three boats got to Iran (one OSA, one polnocny and the T43). also 20 sailors died on the boats that sank and 68 taken POW.

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 SA2 and SA6 sites were destroyed, 26% of SA3 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 SA2 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 iraqs preoccupation with countering the apache helicopters. the doctrine that grew out of this was actually rather effective in karbala battle 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 lost a total of 23 aircraft in air to air combat and made the following claims:^[10]

4 kills:

17 January, 96sqn MiG25PDS flown by Zuhair Dawood used R40RD to shoot down USN FA18C flown by Speicher.

19 January, 6sqn MiG29 flown by Jameel Sayhood used R60MK to shot down RAF Tornado GR1A flown by Lennox/Weeks

2 other confirmed kills by 96sqn MiG25PDS DETAILS UNKNOWN.

1 probable:

DETAILS UNKNOWN

4 damaged:

17 January, 63sqn, MiG23ML flown by Hussam used R24T to damaged F111F of the 48th TFW USAF

17 January, 63sqn, MiG23ML used an R24T to damage F111F of the 48th TFW USAF (serial 70-2384)

17 January, 6thsqn, MiG29 flown by Khudair Hijab used R60MK to damage F111F of the 48th TFW USAF

17 January, 6th Sqn, MiG29 flown by Khudair hijab used an R27R to damage B52 of the 4300BW flown by Mason/Linwood.

Operation Iraqi Freedom - 2003

An Iraqi MiG-25 Foxbat found buried under the sand west of Baghdad.

By 2003, Iraq's air power numbered an estimated 180, of which only about a half were flyable.^[18] In late 2002, a Yugoslav weapons company provided servicing for the MiG-21s and MiG-23s, violating the UN sanctions.^[18] An aviation institute in Bijeljina, Bosnia and Herzegovina, supplied the engines and spare parts.^[19] 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.^[20] The IQAF proved to be totally non-existent during the invasion; a few helicopters were seen but no fighters flew to combat coalition aircraft.^[21]

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.^[22] 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.^[16]

Post-Invasion to Present

A U.S. Airman conducts post-flight checks on an IQAF C-130 Hercules.

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.^[23] The newly created air force consisted only of 35 people in 2004 when it began operations.^[24]

In December 2004, the Iraqi ministry of defense signed two contracts with the Polish defence consortium BUMAR.^[25] 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.^[25] 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.^[25] 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).^[25] 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.^[26]

An Iraqi Air Force C-130 Hercules on the flightline at Al Basrah International Airport on May 1, 2005.

The Air Force primarily serves as a light reconnaissance and transport operation.^[27] 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.^[28]

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.^[23][27]

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. ^[29]

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.^[30]

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.^[31]

Future

An Iraqi Air Force Cessna 172 lands at Kirkuk Air Base.

An Iraqi Air Force Cessna 208 flies over Iraq on a training sortie.

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.^[32] It is speculated that Iraq may buy 50 Aérospatiale Gazelle attack helicopters from France.^[33] 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.^[34]

As of September 2008, the IQAF has expressed an interest in buying 36 new-built F-16s to reduce its reliance on U.S. air power and potentially allow more American forces to withdraw from the country according to the US military.^[35]

On October 14, 2008, Aviaition 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.^[36]

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.^[37]

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.^[38]

Air Force commanders

• 1936, Muhammed Ali Jawad^[5]
• 1941, Mahmud Salman^[39]
• 1963, Hardan al-Tikriti^[40]
• 1968, Jassam Mohammed al-Shahir^[41]
• 1973-1976, Brigade Nima Al Dulaimi
• 1978-1983, Mohamed Jessam Al-Jeboury
• 1985, Air Marshal Hamid Sha'aban^[42]
• 1990 Muzahim Hassan al-Tikriti then khaldoon khattab^[43]
• mid-1990s to 2003, Hamid Raja Shalah^[44]
• 2006- Kamal Barzanji^[45]

• 2008–present Anwar Hamad Ameen^[45]

Order of battle

The Iraqi Air Force consists of nine squadrons and one training wing:^[46]

• Flight Training Wing – The flight training wing operates mostly fixed wing aircraft such as the T-6A, Cessna 172, Cessna 208 and Beechcraft King Air 350. Wing including 1st and 12th Squadrons is moving from Kirkuk to Tikrit.^[46]
  • 1st Flight Training Squadron – The Iraqi Air Force's primary fixed wing training squadron operating 4 T-6A, 12 Cessna 172 and 5 Cessna 208. It is based in Tikrit.
  • 12th Flight Training Squadron – A training squadron currently operating 10 Bell 206 helicopters. Based at Kirkuk.
• 2nd Squadron – A helicopter airlift squadron operating sixteen UH-1H Huey II helicopters donated by Jordan. The helicopters were refurbished and upgraded by the United States and delivered in 2006-2007. It is based in Taji.^[47]
• 3rd Squadron – A reconnaissance squadron operating 8 Cessna 208 Caravan reconnaissance aircraft. Its base is in the city of Kirkuk.^[47]
• 4th Squadron – A helicopter airlift squadron operating 30 Mil Mi-17 helicopters. It is based in Taji.^[47]
• 15th SOF Squadron – A helicopter squadron being formed specifically for the ISOF. The unit consists of 26 Mi-17-v5 helicopters.
• 23rd Squadron – 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 Airport.^[48]
• 70th Squadron – A reconnaissance squadron operating 16 CH-2000 light reconnaissance aircraft. It is based in Basrah.^[47]
• 87th Squadron – A light transport and reconnaissance squadron currently operating the Beechcraft King Air 350. It is based at New Al Muthana Air Base.^[49]
• Technical Training Wing – Based at Taji.

Aircraft inventory

Current inventory

Members of the Iraqi Army board an Iraqi C-130 Hercules in Basra.

Bell 206B Jet Ranger

Air Force Mil Mi-17-V5

Iraqi UH-1 preparing for takeoff.

Aircraft[50]	Origin	Type	Versions	In service[51]	Notes
Trainer Aircraft
Hawker Beechcraft T-6 Texan II	United States	COIN attack	AT-6B	0	36 AT-6B light attack aircraft to be delivered by 2011.
Bell 206 JetRanger	United States	utility/ training helicopter	206B	10
Bell 407	United States	conversion training helicopter		0	3 Aircraft pending delivery. To be used as training helicopter for the armed versions.
Bell OH-58 Kiowa	United States	utility/ training helicopter	OH-58C	10[52]	On loan from US Army
Cessna 172 Skyhawk	United States	utility/ basic training		18	Option for up to 28 total aircraft
Cessna 208 Caravan	United States	utility/ training	TC208	5
Hawker Beechcraft T-6 Texan II	United States	training	T-6A	8	First delivery December 2009. 15 total on order.
Lasta 95	Serbia	basic training		3[53]	Total of 20 to be delivered.[53]
Transport Aircraft
Beechcraft King Air 350	United States	light/ VIP transport	350ER	24
Lockheed C-130 Hercules	United States	tactical airlift/ transport	C-130E C-130-J30	3 0	ex-USAF, 6 C-130-J30 versions to be delivered.
Reconnaissance Aircraft
Beechcraft King Air 350	United States	surveillance and reconnaissance	350ISR	10	24 total aircraft expected by end of 2009.
Cessna 208 Caravan	United States	ground surveillance/ strike	RC/AC208	8	armed with Hellfire missiles.
SAMA CH2000	Jordan	liaison		16
Seabird SBL-360 Seeker	Jordan	Observation/ liaison	SB7L-360A	2	Both aircraft upgraded with Westar reconnaissance sensors and returned to service in 2009.
Helicopters
Bell UH-1H Iroquois	United States	light-lift utility helicopter	Huey II	16[54]
Bell Armed 407	United States	reconnaissance/ light attack helicopter		0	24 helicopters to be delivered by 2011. Option for additional 26 helicopters TBD though 2012.
Eurocopter EC 635	European Union	light attack/ utilitiy helicopter		0	24 helicopters to be delivered by 2011. Option for additional 26 helicopters TBD through 2012.
Mil Mi-17 Hip-H	Russia	medium-lift transport helicopter	Mi-171 Mi-17-1V Mi-17-v5	2 32 17	Some helicopters not operational. 22 additional Mi-17's to be delivered in 2010. One crashed with 5 KIA [55]
Fighter Aircraft
Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcon	United States	Fighter Aircraft		0	5 Fighter Squadrons (96 Fighter) are probably planned based on the Iraqi MoD desire for 96 advanced F16 ( Block 50-52 ) by 2020, deliveries probably starting around 2011
Total				165	474 expected total

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.^[56]
• 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.^[56][57]
• Possible sale of 6 Antonov An-32 aircraft as part of 2.5 billion dollar arms deal with Ukraine.^[58]

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 of AgustaWestland’s globally popular AW109s; or
• 15 Bell Model 429 Medical Evacuation and Aerial Observation helicopters; or
• 15 EADS North America UH-72A 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 AW139 Medium Utility helicopters; or
• 12 Bell Model 412s, which would possess many similarities to Iraq’s less-advanced Huey-IIs; or
• 12 Sikorsky UH-60M Black Hawk 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.

See also

• Iraqi Security Forces
• Abed Hamed Mowhoush
• Iran–Iraq War in the Air 1980–1988

Notes

References

Sada, Georges; Black, J N (2006). Saddam's Secrets. Integrity Media Europe. ISBN 1591455049. 

Further reading

• Sean Boyle, 'Iraqi boasts air defence network,' Jane's Intelligence Review, June 2002, p. 2-4

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