WASHINGTON — The United States plans to accelerate the expansion and modernization of the
Iraq Air Force.
Officials said the U.S. military in Iraq would help the air force grow
to 2,500 airmen in another year. They said Washington would also help upgrade Iraqi aircraft, Middle East Newsline reported.
"This rebuilding effort will continue to increase at an accelerated pace
as the Iraqi air force seeks to grow to almost 2,500 people by the end of
'07," U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Stephen Hoog said.
Over the last two years, the air force has acquired C-130 air
transports, Seeker SB7L-360 and CH-2000 military surveillance aircraft and
Mi-17 utility helicopters. The United States has also been upgrading UH-1
helicopters for the air force.
Hoog, commander of the Coalition Air Force Transition Team, told a
Pentagon briefing on Sept. 1 that over the past six months the Iraq Air
Force has improved its ability to support counterinsurgency missions. He
said the air force's CI mission consists mostly of aerial
observation, surveillance and air transportation.
Officials said the air force has been developed to protect such
strategic facilities as Iraq's crude oil fields and pipeline network. They
said the air force was also being trained for reconnaissance missions along
Iraq's borders.
The air force has acquired three C-130s from the United States.
Officials said the airplanes have moved 6,000 Iraqi and coalition troops and
more than 460 tons of cargo since March 2006.
Officials said Iraq's fleet of Seeker SB7L-360 and CH-2000s has flown
more than 200 intelligence, reconnaissance and surveillance missions over
the last six months. They said U.S. advisers have helped develop the air
force, including the relocation of its headquarters to the same base as that
of the Iraq Army.
"We are working together as one team," Iraq Air Force chief of staff
Maj. Gen. Jamal Barzanjy said. "Of course, we still need support from our
allies, but we are going."
Officials said the United States would deliver the first of 16 UH-1H
aircraft to the Iraq Air Force fleet by January 2007. The UH-1s were being
upgraded to the enhanced Huey-2 configuration in a move designed to provide
the platforms with medium-lift and casualty-evacuation capability.
Ten Mi-17 Hip helicopters have also been slated to join the Iraqi fleet.
Officials said Iraqi pilots have been training to absorb the aircraft.
"They're making progress with leaps and bounds," Hoog said. "The bottom
line is, we are making progress every day in helping the Iraqis enter the
COIN [counter-insurgency] fight now and lay the proper foundation for the
Iraqi air force for the next five to 10 years."
