Iraq Moves Air Force College HQ

The Al-Suwayrah Air Base Rehabilitation Project has finally come to fruition. On 28 October 2023, the headquarters of the Air Force College officially re-opened on this fully refurbished and modernised air base south-east of Baghdad.

Korean Aerospace Industries (KAI) started the negotiations to become the main contractor for the project back in 2014 and the project suffered major delays due to financial issues since they signed the contract. Under the project, new runways, Hardened Aircraft Shelters (HAS), simulators and training facilities were established.

During the second half of October, the first T-50IQ Golden Eagle and T-6A Texan II trainers were moved to Al-Suwayrah and it is to be expected that the 203rd Training Squadron (operating the Texan II) and the 204th Training squadron (operating the T-50IQ) will move here from Martyr Brigadier General Ali Falih Al-Jawiya Air Base (Balad) and Martyr Muhammed Alaa Al-Jawiya Air Force Base (Baghdad Al-Muthanna), respectively.

It is unclear if the 205th Training Squadron, operating the MFI-395 Super Mushshak from Balad Air Base, will also move here.

On 9 November 2021, Scramble Magazine first wrote on the KAI repair and maintenance contract for the Iraqi Air Force T-50IQ advanced trainer jets.

Credit photos: Iraqi Ministry of Defence