Iraqi Army Aviation

Around twenty Mi-28NE Havoc assault helicopters were delivered to the Iraqi Army since 2014. They played a vital role in the defeat of Daesh (ISIS/ISIL) in Iraq.

IAAC

The Iraqi Army Aviation Command operates Mi-28NE attack helicopters fitted for nocturnal operations, hence the dark livery.

Iraqi MOD

Al Kut/Ubaydah Bin Al Jarrah (ORUB)
RWY 11R/29L POS 32°28'53"N 045°45'24"E ELEV 68 ft Google Maps
Wing	Squadron	Aircraft Type(s)	Name	Badge
Combat Helicopter Wing	22nd Assault Helicopter squadron	Bell 407 (15 x IA-407)

	28th Assault Helicopter squadron	Mi-28NE	Night Hunters/Born to Fight

	35th Assault Helicopter squadron	Mi-35M (6)	Knights of Sky / The Big Brother

Army Aviation HQ	100th Armed Reconnaissance squadron	CH-4B UAV

Army Aviation College	16th Rotary Training squadron	Mi-171E Mi-171Sh

	200th Rotary Training squadron	Bell 407GX (8)

	300th Rotary Training squadron	OH-58A (2) OH-58C (8)	Sky Falcons

	500th Rotary Training squadron	Bell 407GX (8)	Hovering

	Instructor Pilot Unit	Bell 206B (5) Bell 206B-3 (4) AB206B-3 (3)

Al Kut is also dubbed "2nd Army Aviation Base" Since late 2020, the Mi-35 fleet has been stored on a platform in the NW corner of al-Kut. Lack of spare parts (most of them are rotorless) seems to be the culprit. 84th Recce/Attack sq was renamed to 100th Armed Reconnaissance squadron by early 2018. 22th Rotary Training sq was split to 200sq and 300sq. It initially operated (Agusta) Bell 206B helicopters originate from the UAE Air Force while the remaining five were bought on the US civilian market and supplied under FMS. When the Bell 407GX' were delivered these were transferred to the Instructor Pilot Unit. The Army Aviation College moved (from Al Taqaddum/Habbaniya?) to Al Kut/Ubaydah Bin Al Jarrah in 2015.

An unknown number (but at least twelve) of CH-4B UAVs was received from China since 23 January 2015. They were first noted in March that year and in October they made their public appearance.

Internet

24 Eurocopter EC635T2+ are operated by the Army Aviation Command. Some were upgraded by South African company Paramount and received the FLASH helicopter weapons kit.

IAAC

Al Shaibah (--)
RWY 14/32 POS 30°25'33"N 047°38'36"E ELEV 58 ft Google Maps
Wing	Squadron	Aircraft Type(s)	Name	Badge
Transport Helicopter Wing	85th Transport squadron	Mi-17

Al Shaibah is also dubbed "5th Army Aviation Base"

Al Taqaddum/Tamuz AB (ORAT)
RWY 12L/30R, 12R/30L POS 33°20'17"N 043°35'50"E ELEV 275 ft Google Maps
Wing	Squadron	Aircraft Type(s)	Name	Badge
Combat Helicopter Wing	55th Assault Helicopter squadron	EC635T2+ (24)

	88th Assault Training squadron	SA342M (6)

Army Aviation HQ	84th Reconnaissance squadron	Scan Eagle UAV	Eye in the Sky

32nd Special Operations Aviation Bgd	15th Special Operations squadron Det.	Mi-17-1V Mi-171 Mi-171Sh	The Night Wolves

Al Taqaddum / Tammuz is also dubbed "3rd Army Aviation Base" 55sq moved from Taji to Al Taqaddum / Tammuz Air Base by February 2020. 88sq moved from Taji to Al Taqaddum / Tammuz Air Base by September 2021.

The 300th Training Squadron at Habbaniyah operates the OH-58s. It has ten OH-58A/C helicopters which are ex US Army National Guard. They are used for night vision goggle training.

USAF

Kirkuk (ORKK)
RWY 13/31, 15/33 POS 35°28'08"N 044°20'58"E ELEV 1148 ft Google Maps
Wing	Squadron	Aircraft Type(s)	Name	Badge
Transport Helicopter Wing	4th Utility squadron	Mi-17 Mi-171

32nd Special Operations Aviation Bgd	15th Special Operations squadron Det.	Mi-17-1V Mi-171 Mi-171Sh	The Night Wolves

Kirkuk is also dubbed "4th Army Aviation Base" 4sq has previously been reported at Basrah but in early 2015 it was reportedly located at Taji. in 2022, media footage showed 4sq at Kirkuk. Kirkuk hosts a detachment of the Special Forces helicopter units since 2012.

Six former French Army SA342M Gazelle light assault helicopters were supplied to 88sq in February 2010.

@baghdadspotterr

The Ministry of Oil received four EC145 helicopters in 2017. One was lost in a crash in August 2022.

@baghdadspotterr

Taji (ORTI)
RWY 16/34 POS 33°31'25"N 044°15'24"E ELEV 120 ft Google Maps
Wing	Squadron	Aircraft Type(s)	Name	Badge
Transport Helicopter Wing	2nd Scout/Utility squadron	UH-1H-II (16)	Brothers

32nd Special Operations Aviation Bgd	15th Special Operations squadron	Mi-17-1V Mi-171 Mi-171Sh (12)	The Night Wolves

Combat Helicopter Wing	21st Assault Helicopter squadron	Bell 407 (12 x IA-407) Bell 407 (3 x T-407) Bell 407GX (5 x IA-407GX)	Aero Scouts

Ministry of Oil	111 squadron	EC145 (BK117C-2E) (3)

Taji is also dubbed "1st Army Aviation Base" The Bell 407 is also designated as IA-407 (Iraqi Army 407 and ARH-70 (Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter). 21sq was activated in February 2010. The EC145s of 111sq operate for the Ministry of oil. The Oil Exploration Company - Aviation Division is a non-military Iraqi Government body comprising of an Air Transport Department and subsequent Aviation Division, the aircraft are maintained and operated by the Iraqi Army Aviation Command, 111sq and designated locally as BK117. Since when the Army started operating these helicopters, is unclear but the air assets have been noted with Iraqi military serials since early 2024. We assess that this transfer to the army took place after one of the helicopters crashed in Al-Anbar Governorate in September 2022. Confirmation would be welcome, however! The maintenance of these helicopters is performed by 55th Squadron at Al Taqaddum so they might also be based there. Again: updates welcome.

The Mi-8/17 Hip used to be the mainstay of the Iraqi Army. Some of the examples bought by the Saddam Hussein regime seem to have survived and were upgraded in Jordan.

USAF

Bell T-407 YI-140 is seen here during the first test flight for the helicopters over Northern Iraq. The training helicopters will help train qualified Iraqi army pilots to operate and maintain the Iraqi 407 Armed Scout Helicopters (IA-407).

McMillan, Amie J SPC USCENTCOM USF-I)

Iraqi Army Aviation

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