The Patriot Files Forums  

Go Back   The Patriot Files Forums > Military News > Iraq

Post New Thread  Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 03-29-2022, 05:52 AM
Boats's Avatar
Boats Boats is offline
Senior Member
 

Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Sauk Village, IL
Posts: 21,783
Post Iraq Brings Fixed-Wing And Rotary-Wing Military Aircraft Back Into Service

Iraq Brings Fixed-Wing And Rotary-Wing Military Aircraft Back Into Service
By: Paul Iddon - Fobes & Aerospace & Defense - 03-29-022
Re: https://www.forbes.com/sites/paulidd...h=21635bca6b94

Iraq has made some notable progress in bringing military aircraft back into service in recent months to get the most out of its military's modest airpower.

The latest report by the U.S. Department of Defense's Office of the Inspector General (OIG) to the United States Congress on Operation Inherent Resolve, the U.S.-led coalition campaign against the Islamic State, that covers the last quarter of 2021, revealed that Iraq's F-16IQ Block 52 fighter-bombers and AC-208 Combat Caravans remained the air force's "main strike platforms with use and mission capable rates similar to those in the previous quarter."

1st. Photo link: https://imageio.forbes.com/specials-...=jpg&width=960
Iraqi Air Force F-16s during a training sortie on July 18, 2019. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. ... [+] U.S. AIR FORCE PHOTO BY STAFF SGT. CHRIS DRZAZGOWSKI

Both of these aircraft can carry precision-guided munitions (PGMs) needed for accurately hitting ISIS targets in the north and west of the country.

Several reports from 2020 and 2021 suggested that Iraq's F-16 fleet was on its deathbed due to poor maintenance, corruption, and lack of U.S.-provided contractor support. The fleet's fate looked particularly dire when U.S. contractors left Balad Airbase in mid-2021 due to continued militia rocket attacks.

2nd. Photo link: https://imageio.forbes.com/specials-...=jpg&width=960
Contractors working on an Iraqi Air Force F-16IQ at Balad Airbase.

However, some of those contractors relocated to Erbil, Iraqi Kurdistan, and have assisted Iraqi technicians "through video teleconference and technician day trips to Balad for direct hands-on support," according to the OIG report.

Consequently, the Iraqi air force has been able to keep a sufficient number of F-16s airworthy to carry out targeted strikes against ISIS remnants, which still pose a significant security threat.

At the same time, Baghdad has also been pressing other aircraft back into service.

3rd photo link: https://imageio.forbes.com/specials-...=jpg&width=960
SALADIN, IRAQ - NOVEMBER 05: A L-159 Czech fighter jet is seen during a delivery ceremony of the ...

In addition to its F-16s and AC-208s, Iraq's Czech-made Aero L-159 ALCA light combat aircraft and Russian-made Su-25 Frogfoot ground attack aircraft carried out a handful of airstrikes in that quarter.

The OIG report noted that the former's use in combat "is notable since it had not been used for operations in nearly 5 years". Iraqi Su-25s were also reported grounded in early 2021 due to a lack of spare parts and funds.

4th photo link: https://imageio.forbes.com/specials-...=jpg&width=960
Iraqi Sukhoi Su-25 fighter jets fly over the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier during the 94th Army Day ... [+] AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES

Unlike the F-16s and AC-208s, these aircraft were used relatively sparingly since neither have PGMs. The L-159s, nevertheless, carried out strikes using unguided Mark-82 general-purpose bombs since they lack laser designation pods.

The OIG report noted that the Su-25s have been "largely relegated to conducting training missions due to a lack of confidence in air-to-ground weapons accuracy given the aircraft can only use unguided rockets and bombs."

Furthermore, both aircraft "still suffer from low fully mission capability rates."

Iraq is also supplementing these strikes using its helicopters. Here too, Baghdad is trying to get the most out of its rotary-wing military aircraft.

Iraq operates a fleet of Mi-28NE and Mi-35M attack helicopters that it procured from Russia in 2013-14. These helicopters were used to give Iraqi ground forces close air support during offensives against ISIS.

5th photo link: https://imageio.forbes.com/specials-...=jpg&width=960
An Iraqi airforce MI-28 helicopter lands at the army base of Qaryat Jaddalat, south of the city of ... [+] AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES

On Mar. 1, Iraqi Defense Minister Juma Anad Sadoun visited Taji Airbase to inspect some of these helicopters that were recently returned to service. During his visit, ten helicopters were filmed taking off. The defense minister inspected Mi-28NEs, Mi-35Ms, and Mi-17 utility helicopters.

"We just demonstrated the repair campaign for a number of military helicopters," he said.

"We are continuing with this campaign and in the near future we are planning to repair a second batch of helicopters, and so forth, until we complete the repair of all broken-down helicopters, and thus increase the overall readiness level to more than 80%."

The OIG report also pointed out that 20 of the airstrikes carried out by Iraq against ISIS in that quarter were done by air force F-16s, AC-208s, L-159s, and Su-25s. Bell-407, EC-635, Mi-17, and Mi-35 helicopters under the Iraqi Army Aviation Command carried out another 11.

6th photo link: https://imageio.forbes.com/specials-...=jpg&width=960
An Iraqi airforce Bell 407 helicopter takes off in front of MI-35 and MI-28 helicopters at the army ... [+] AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES

"One airstrike was conducted using assets from both services," the OIG report noted.

These examples demonstrate that Iraqi airpower is still alive and kicking and capable of hindering ISIS's attempts to make a bloody resurgence in the country.

About this writer: Paul Iddon - is a journalist/columnist who writes about Middle East military and political affairs.
__________________
Boats

O Almighty Lord God, who neither slumberest nor sleepest; Protect and assist, we beseech thee, all those who at home or abroad, by land, by sea, or in the air, are serving this country, that they, being armed with thy defence, may be preserved evermore in all perils; and being filled with wisdom and girded with strength, may do their duty to thy honour and glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

"IN GOD WE TRUST"
sendpm.gif Reply With Quote
Sponsored Links
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On

All times are GMT -7. The time now is 03:40 AM.


Powered by vBulletin, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.