Officials said the Iraq Army has been training on firing rockets from the Mi-17. They said the Russian helicopter, the staple of the Army's new Aviation Directorate, could be armed with an array of rockets, missiles and guns.

"This training is a step forward and will help them take over air missions," U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Scott Curtin, a senior adviser, said.

On Oct. 27, three Iraqi instructors completed a portion of the Mi-17 weapons re-qualification training. The course included mission planning as well as firing 80 mm rockets from the helicopter toward ground targets. The instructors were said to have successfully fired 36 of 40 rockets.

Officials said the U.S. military has been helping the Iraq Army convert much of its helicopter fleet for attack missions. They pointed out that Baghdad had ordered the Bell-407 assault helicopter, which carries the advanced Hellfire air-to-ground missile. In November, the Iraqi military, in cooperation with U.S. trainers, fired Hellfire missiles from helicopters.

"Our advisers will continue to monitor this training and help determine steps for the Iraqi army Aviation Directorate to transition to real-world employment of these weapons in support of Iraqi army and other Iraqi security forces," U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Scott Hanson, director of the air operations training, said.

---