The Iraqi Air Force ordered 36 F-16C/D Block 52 advanced front line fighter aircraft. Some remained in use by the USAF 152nd FS/162nd FW at Tucson (AZ) for training purposes. This example is flying through the famous Death Valley canyon called Jedi Transition during a training sortie in March 2018.
The U-28s are detached at Kirkuk and Basrah. 87sq is also designated as the "87th Composite Squadron".
On 5 November 2015, the first two L-159A arrived at Balad from Aero Vodochody in the Czech Republic. In total ten L-159A single seaters and two L-159T1 trainers were ordered under a deal that was approved by the Czech government in March 2015.
@khalid_alobeidi
Baghdad/Al Rasheed AB (--) Al Salem AB (Baghdad Military; Al Rashid)
109th squadron is also located at Al Asad, it is dispersed across two air bases. Maintenance is done here, at Al Rasheed.
From 29 June 2014, Iraq received ten ex-Russian AF Su-25 Ground Attack jets to counter the ISIL insurgency. A number of former Iran Revolutionary Guard Corps Air Force (IRGCAF) Su-25s were re-delivered to the Iraqi Air Force. Some former Belarussian Air Force Frogfoots were also delivered in the 2018/2019 timeframe.
The ex-Russian, Belarussian and Iranian Air Force Su-25s are operating from Al-Asad and Baghdad al-Rasheed Air Force Bases. Since early 2019 they started sporting the original Iraqi Air Force roundel again.
Internet photo
Balad (ORBD) Martyr Brig.Gen. Ali Falih Al-Jawiya AB
RWY 12/30, 14/32 POS 33°56'25"N 044°21'42"E ELEV 161 ft
3sq operates Hellfire armed Cessna 208B Caravan aircraft, locally designated AC208 Caravan which are also Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) capable.
3rd Sq moved from Kirkuk to Balad in ~2011
The Comp Air 7SLX, operated by 3sq, was withdrawn from use in late 2007. The first batch of four F-16s were delivered on 13 July 2015. A regular detachment of 109 Sq can be found here. The first two L-15A aircraft were delivered on 5 November 2015. The patch of 115 sq depicted here is not the official one. The AF College moved to Balad from Tikrit in 2014. Tikrit is also known as Combat Operating Base (COB) Speicher.
Reportedly, 1st Training Squadron was renamed 202sq in March 2011. Was this 201sq at some point?
Reportedly, 3rd Training Squadron was renamed 203sq. When did this take place? Please use the Send Updates below to help us out! The unit moved from Talil/Imam Ali Base to Balad, when is unknown.
An Iraqi F-16 climbs out to commence a nocturnal mission.
Stephan de Bruijn
Nasiriyah (ORTL) Tallil/Imam Ali AB
RWY 12L/30R, 12R/30L POS 30°56'09"N 046°05'25"E ELEV 20 ft
70sq moved from Basrah to Talil/Imam Ali in October 2010. Reportedly, 2nd Training Squadron was renamed 201sq in March 2011. Was this 202sq at some point?
The first two Hawker Beechcraft T-6A Texan IIs for the Iraqi Air Force departed Wichita on their delivery flight on 1 December 2009, transiting from Beech Field (KBEC) via Des Moines, IA (KDSM) to Toronto Pearson International Airport (CYYZ), Toronto, ON, Canada, onwards to Ostend in Belgium. They were numbered YI-501 (c/n PT-496) and, YI-502 (c/n PT-497). Iraqi Air Force titles were covered over for the delivery flight, and National Insignia will be applied after delivery. They were flown by Hawker Beechcraft test pilots, using their callsigns as flight numbers, HBK122 and HBK178.
Andrew. H. Cline
Send Updates
Subscribe to Scramble
As a member you get access to all our premium content and benefits learn more
