June 29/11: The US DSCA announces [PDF] Iraq’s formal request to buy follow-on support and maintenance for “multiple aircraft systems” that include its Cessna TC-208 trainers and armed AC-208s, Cessna 172s; and HawkerBeechcraft’s T-6A advanced trainers and King Air 350ER twin-engine light transports and surveillance planes.
This set encompasses all of Iraq’s current fixed wing American aircraft types, except for its C-130E and future C-130J medium transports. The IqAF also flies Lasta-95 trainers from Serbia, as well as Seabird Seeker and CH2000 light aircraft from Jordan, and will soon begin inducting AN-32 light tactical transports from Ukraine. American Foreign Military Sales would be an unlikely venue for contracts to support them.
DJ Elliott is a retired USN Intelligence Specialist (22 years active duty) who has been analyzing and writing on Iraqi Security Forces developments since 2006. His Iraqi Security Forces Order of Battle is an open-source compilation that attempts to map and detail Iraqi units and equipment, as their military branches and internal security forces grow and mature. While “good enough for government use” is not usually uttered as a compliment, US Army TRADOC has maintained permission to use the ISF OOB for their unclassified handouts since 2008.
This compilation is reproduced here with full permission. It offers a set of updates highlighting recent changes in the ISF’s composition and development, followed by the full updated ISF OOBs in PDF format.
Iraq’s air force is growing, slowly. The force still has no fixed-wing combat aircraft, but a handful of helicopters, transports, and surveillance aircraft have created a set of limited core capabilities. Bell Helicopter’s 407 was picked as Iraq’s ARH armed scout helicopter, and they may soon be accompanied by agreements to buy AT-6B light attack turboprops, Czech L-159 trainer/ light attack jets, and eventually even American F-16s.
Meanwhile, helicopters and armed Cessnas form the backbone of Iraq’s combat aviation power. The Bell 407 ARHs would operate beside Iraq’s fleet of Russian-designed Mi-17 medium helicopters (which have been armed), and a handful of Bell Huey-IIs are on hand for utility duties. Now a 4th type is entering service. Iraq is diversifying its options, and its fleet, with the first military order from France since 1990. An order that can serve in light utility, SAR(search-and-rescue), and armed scout roles.
Aug 5/13: The US DSCA announces Iraq’s request for an Integrated Air Defense system worth up to $2.4 billion, and seems to confirm that the radars in question were AN/TPS-77s.
May 9/11: Lockheed Martin Corp., Lockheed Martin MS2 Tactical Systems in Eagan, MN receives $26 million firm-fixed-price/cost-plus-fixed-fee contract to provide a turn-key “Long Range Radar 2” site for the Iraqi Air Force, as a Foreign Military Sales contract. At this point, $13 million has been committed by the Electronic Systems Center/HSGK at Hanscom AFB, MA (FA8707-11-C-0007). See also: FedBizOpps. The question is, what radar are they referring to?
DJ Elliott is a retired USN Intelligence Specialist (22 years active duty) who has been analyzing and writing on Iraqi Security Forces developments since 2006. His Iraqi Security Forces Order of Battle is an open-source compilation that attempts to map and detail Iraqi units and equipment, as their military branches and internal security forces grow and mature. While “good enough for government use” is not usually uttered as a compliment, US Army TRADOC has maintained permission to use the ISF OOB for their unclassified handouts since 2008.
This compilation is reproduced here with full permission. It offers a set of updates highlighting recent changes in the ISF’s composition and development, followed by the full updated ISF OOBs in PDF format.
May 3/11: The US Defense Security Cooperation Agency announces [PDF] Iraq’s official request for various radios and communication equipment to equip its Federal Police Force, as well as associated equipment, parts, training and support.
Harris Corporation in White Plains, NY would be the contractor, for up to 750 of their 50-Watt Vehicular Multiband Handheld Radio Systems, 900 of their 5-watt Multiband Handheld Radio Systems, 50 of their 50-watt Multiband Handheld Base Stations, 50 of their 20-watt High Frequency (HF) Base Stations, and 100 of their 5-watt Secure Personal Role Handheld Radio Systems, along with the other items mentioned above. Security features will be lower than the USA’s full military gear, but it will provide Iraq with updated frequency-hopping capabilities (SINCGARS) as well as a digital data capability.
If a contract is signed, the cost is estimated to be up to $67 million. Implementation of this proposed sale will require 6 Harris personnel to travel to Iraq for operator & maintenance instruction (4 weeks each) and installation support (6 increments, for 2 weeks per visit). ISF Order of Battle author DJ Elliott says that “This is part of the retraining, re-equipping, and re-designation program transferring the provincial Emergency Police to the Federal Police.”
Artillery-locating radars like the AN/TPQ-36 and TPQ-37 Firefinder radars, and the lighter LCMR, automatically detect, track and locate enemy mortars, artillery and rocket launchers. Once incoming rounds are picked up, the radar system backtracks the projectile’s flight, in order to pinpoint the launcher before the incoming round has even landed. Meanwhile, back-end systems can trigger alarms, giving people in the target area the critical seconds they need to get under cover. The TPQ-36 radar is specifically designed to counter medium range enemy weapon systems out to a range of 24 km/ 15 miles, while the TPQ-37 can locate longer-range systems and even surface launched missiles out to 50 km/ 31 miles.
Mortars and rockets have been common threats in Iraq, and advanced counter-battery radars have been the first line of defense for military bases and key civilian sectors. The systems do suffer from “false positives,” but on the whole, they’re very valuable. Michael Yon, embedded with 1-24 (“Deuce Four”) in Mosul in 2005, offered a first hand description of counter-battery radars’ effect on enemy tactics. With American forces drawing down and leaving, it’s no surprise that Iraq wants some.
DJ Elliott is a retired USN Intelligence Specialist (22 years active duty) who has been analyzing and writing on Iraqi Security Forces developments since 2006. His Iraqi Security Forces Order of Battle is an open-source compilation that attempts to map and detail Iraqi units and equipment, as their military branches and internal security forces grow and mature. While “good enough for government use” is not usually uttered as a compliment, US Army TRADOC has maintained permission to use the ISF OOB for their unclassified handouts since 2008.
This compilation is reproduced here with full permission. It offers a set of updates highlighting recent changes in the ISF’s composition and development, followed by the full updated ISF OOBs in PDF format.
DJ Elliott is a retired USN Intelligence Specialist (22 years active duty) who has been analyzing and writing on Iraqi Security Forces developments since 2006. His Iraqi Security Forces Order of Battle is an open-source compilation that attempts to map and detail Iraqi units and equipment, as their military branches and internal security forces grow and mature. While “good enough for government use” is not usually uttered as a compliment, US Army TRADOC has maintained permission to use the ISF OOB for their unclassified handouts since 2008.
This compilation is reproduced here with full permission. It offers a set of updates highlighting recent changes in the ISF’s composition and development, followed by the full updated ISF OOBs in PDF format.
DJ Elliott is a retired USN Intelligence Specialist (22 years active duty) who has been analyzing and writing on Iraqi Security Forces developments since 2006. His Iraqi Security Forces Order of Battle is an open-source compilation that attempts to map and detail Iraqi units and equipment, as their military branches and internal security forces grow and mature. While “good enough for government use” is not usually uttered as a compliment, US Army TRADOC has maintained permission to use the ISF OOB for their unclassified handouts since 2008.
This compilation is reproduced here with full permission. It offers a set of updates highlighting recent changes in the ISF’s composition and development, followed by the full updated ISF OOBs in PDF format.
