Officials said the primary mission of the one-hour flight was to demonstrate joint air reconnaissance along Iraq's southern border with Iran. The 70th Squadron, based in Basra, has been working with the U.S. Army to develop missions over the next year, Middle East Newsline reported.

"As the first-ever joint mission of this type between Iraqi and U.S. forces, the flight also served as familiarization and proof-of-concept for future joint missions," the U.S. Army said on July 3.

Iraq received the first CH-2000 aircraft from Jordan around 2004. The single-engine aircraft, produced by Jordan Aerospace Industries, has been equipped with forward-looking infrared and multi-sensor imager for night time missions.

"If we see something abnormal, like some vehicle crossing or some bad people crossing the border or smuggling, immediately we send a report," Fahd said.

The 70th Squadron was said to have operated at least eight CH-2000s. The squadron began with nine pilots and five maintenance personnel and has now reached a staff of 300, with 40 pilots.

"I think there is a big future for the pilots here," Fahd said.

Officials said the turboprop CH-2000 aircraft shares a similar speed with the Apache, a requirement for joint missions. They said the joint mission could also help support Iraq Army units.

"We got the air-to-air coordination piece worked out," U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer Anthony Kinney, an Apache pilot, said. "Flying with them was no problem."

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