Iraq eyes F-16 to spearhead rebuild of fast-jet air force

As part of the security process the Iraqi government is rebuilding an air force.

Initially limited to intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance (ISTAR) types, helicopters and transport aircraft, the New Iraqi Air Force aspires to a real combat capability.

In pursuit of this it has ordered 36 armed Beechcraft AT-6B Texan II aircraft and 26 Bell 407 Helicopters armed with rockets, gun pods and AGM-114 Hellfire guided missiles.

But, most vitally, Iraq has wanted to restore a fast-jet capability, preferably by acquiring a western interoperable fighter aircraft. This move would reduce its reliance on US airpower and would give the government a powerful new tool to use against the on-going insurgency, as well as a means of defending its own airspace, allowing the Iraqi Air Force to support coalition operations.

Tactical air power is becoming increasingly important in Iraq and USAF fast jets have expended increasing amounts of ordnance in their efforts to wipe out the remnants of Al Qaeda in Iraq and eradicate other militant groups. The supply of F-16s to the Iraqi Air Force would, thereby, allow the USA to withdraw further USAF units from the country.

The original Iraqi Air Force had about 700 combat aircraft before Operation Desert Storm, when it lost some 44 in air combat, 222 on the ground (plus 88 damaged) and 84 fled to Iran, never to be returned.

Most of the surviving aircraft were grounded as a result of post-war sanctions and allied operations over the no-fly zones, and were dismantled or buried prior to the 2003 invasion.

There were reports that Iraq was hoping to restore some 18 Mirage F1s to airworthy condition, or that it might receive ten MiG-23s and a similar number of MiG-21s that had been sent to Yugoslavia for servicing. But these would only ever have provided an interim solution, and the air force was always determined to re-equip with a more modern and more credible multi-role fighter.

The air force’s fighter of choice is the Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcon, 96 of which are eventually required to equip five squadrons, with initial deliveries beginning from 2011.

Initial Iraqi requests were for the supply of 36 F-16s, with the Iraqis requesting pricing and availability information on August 27 2009 and then, in March 2010, submitting a request to purchase 18 Block 52 F-16s.

Following this, on July16 2010, it was announced that the Iraqi government had signed an agreement with the US government to train an initial cadre of ten selectively-chosen Iraqi Air Force pilots on the T-6A Texan II and T-38 Talon, including an ‘introduction to fighter fundamentals’ course and specialised English language training.

Upon graduating from their 12-17 month courses, these pilots will have completed all flight training necessary to allow them to immediately move into F-16 conversion training.

Finally, on September 13, the US Defense Security Co-operation Agency (DSCA) notified Congress of a possible foreign military sale to Iraq of 18 F-16IQ aircraft, together with associated equipment and services.

The total value of the deal, if all options were to be exercised, including site survey and construction, personnel training and training equipment, a ground-based flight simulator, tanker support and ferry services, publications and technical documentation, spares and repair parts, support equipment, modification kits, and US Government and contractor technical, engineering, and logistics support services, and other related elements of logistics support, could be as high as $4.2 billion.

The F-16IQ is an export version of the current Block 50/52 F-16C, powered by a Pratt and Whitney F100-PW-229 or General Electric F110-GE-129 Increased Performance Engine, and equipped with Westinghouse (Northrop Grumman) APG-68(V)9 radar, as used on the Block 52 F-16s supplied to the air forces of Israeli, Turkey, Morocco, Greece, Pakistan and Poland.

The aircraft will be equipped with AN/APX-113 advanced identification friend or foe (AIFF) systems (without mode IV), and advanced countermeasures electronic systems, including the ALQ-187 electronic warfare system and AN/ALR-93 radar warning receivers, as well as AN/ALE-47 countermeasures dispensing systems (CMDS).

The US DSCA notification indicates that the aircraft will be supplied with AN/AAQ-33 Sniper or AN/AAQ-28 Litening Targeting Pods, and with four Goodrich DB-110 Reconnaissance Pods or BAE Systems F-9120 advanced airborne reconnaissance systems (AARS) pods, and may also be supplied with conformal fuel tanks.

The Congressional notification includes weapons, with 200 AIM-9L/M-8/9 Sidewinder IR-homing air-to-air missiles and 150 AIM-7M-F1/H Sparrow semi-active radar homing missiles for air-to-air use. Interestingly, no approval has been sought for the supply of more sophisticated and capable AMRAAM missile.

For air-to-ground use, the aircraft could be supplied with 50 AGM-65D/G/H/K Maverick short-range air-to-ground missiles, 200 500pound GBU-12 Paveway II laser-guided bomb units, 50 2,000pound GBU-10 Paveway II laser-guided bomb units and 50 2,000pound GBU-24 Paveway III laser-guided bomb units, but with no long-range stand-off precision-guided weapons.