Iraqi Air Force
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Contents |
History
Founded on April 22 1931, the Iraqi Air Force or "IQAF" was originally composed of five pilots (Aeronautics students who had studied at Cranwell College in Britain), and 32 Aircraft Mechanics. The original five pilots were;
- Natiq Mohammed Khalil al-Tay
- Mohammed Ali Jawad
- Hafdhi Aziz
- Akrem Talib Mushtaq
- Musa Ali
Based out of al-Washash Airport, the Air Force was not used in a combat role until 1941 in their war against British occupation, and then in 1948 in their war against the newly-created State of Israel.
Six-Day War
During the Six-Day War in June of 1967, the Iraqi Air Force bombed several airbases and land targets on the fifth day, and played a significant role in supporting Jordanian troops, bombing Kafr Sukreen airport and destroying seven landed fighter planes. On June 6, Iraqi pilots destroyed a further two Israeli planes in air fighting.
Yom Kippur War
During the Yom Kippur War in October of 1973, Iraqi pilots ran the first airstrike against Israeli bases in Sinai, hitting artillery sites and Israeli tanks, and also destroyed 12 Israeli fighters in air combat.
Persian Gulf War
During the Persian Gulf War, the Iraqi Air Force was devastated by the United States and its allies. Most airfields were heavily struck, and in air combat Iraq was unable to obtain a kill, while sustaining several losses. Five out of the six Tupolev Tu-22s that Iraq possessed were destroyed by bombings at the start of Operation Desert Storm.
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 spares due to United Nations sanctions. Many aircraft were unserviceable and many were hidden from American reconnaissance to escape potential destruction.
Many pilots and aircraft escaped to Iran during the conflict, although the aircraft were never returned and are now in the Iranian Air Force, including several Mirage F1s, Su-24MK Fencer-Ds, MiG-29 Fulcrums, Su-20s, Su-22M Fitters, Su-25 Frogfoots, MiG-23s and a number of Il-76s, comprising the secretive one-off AEW-AWACS prototype Il76 "ADNAN 1"
Between the wars
After the Gulf War, the air force was comprised of only a sole Tu-22 and several squadrons of MiG-25s purchased from the Soviet Union in 1979. 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 maneouvers were able to avoid any casualties in their dispute over Iraqi airspace.
2003 war
Image:Iraq 131.jpg On the brink of the US invasion, Saddam Hussein decided to disregard his Air Force's wishes to defend the country's airspace against US aircraft and ordered the bulk of his fighters disassembled or buried. Some were later found by US excavation forces around the al-Taqqadum and Al Asad air bases, including MiG-25s and Su-25s. [1]
List of Commanders
?-2003 Abed Hamed Mowhoush
Current
The Iraqi Air Force, like all Iraqi forces after the occupation of Iraq by the United States and the Coalition Provisional Authority, is being rebuilt as part of the overall program to build a new Iraqi defense force.
Order of battle
- The Iraqi 2nd Squadron is a helicopter airlift squadron operating two UH-1H Huey helicopters from Jordan. The squadron is scheduled to have 8 UH-1H helicopters in service by the end of 2006.
- The Iraqi 3rd Squadron operates Bell 206 helicopters given by the UAE Air Force
in a light utility role.
- The Iraqi 4th Squadron is a helicopter airlift squadron scheduled to receive 8 UH-1H helicopters in 2006.
- The Iraqi 23rd Squadron is an airlift squadron operating 3 ex-USAF C-130E Hercules transport aircraft.
- The Iraqi 70th Squadron is a reconnaissance squadron operating 8 CH-2000 light reconnaissance aircraft.
Inventory
- Transport
- 3 x C-130E Hercules
- 16x UH-1H Iroquois (14 more scheduled for delivery by 2006)
- Reconnaissance
- 8 x CH-2000
- Utility
- 5xBell 206
