Video : embedded onboard an Iraqi Su-25

On June 28th, 2014, Iraqi Air Force started to receive Su-25 Frogfoots from Russia and Iran. Five of them where Su-25SMs, seven were ex-IRGCASF Su-25KMs (four units) and Su-25UBKMs (three units). They were based at Al-Rashid AB in the new 109th Attack Squadron formed officially on April 2015. One of the aircraft was lost in summer 2014 when it crashed on taking off. On July 13th, one new Su-25 was delivered by Iran in replacement for the aircraft lost. In September, a new Su-25K, was seen with new color scheme and serial “2502”.

Iraqi pilots train in Belarus and Pakistan

On September 20th, video appeared on social media showing the training of Iraqi pilots on Belarus Su-25. Su-25 serial "82" was already seen at Minsk on May 16th, for the 35th anniversary of the 50th airbase airshow.

Right picture : © Alexandr Lazarev

Video - Iraqi F-16IQ entered in action

On September 6th, the commander of the Iraqi air force, Lieutenant General Anwar Hama Amin told that Iraqi F-16IQ (IQ is for Iraqi F-16) began combat operations on September 2nd. They carried out reconnaissance mission and fifteen air strikes on enemy positions in five days in Salaheddin and Kirkuk provinces, north of Baghdad. Two of the targets were a manufacturing explosive laboratory and a house where a meeting of ISIS leaders was taking place in Hawija, 40 km north-east of Baiji. Three aircrafts were engaged in this mission. They intervened 19 minutes after the receipt of the information from intelligence with "smart weapons".

Video of Iraqi Mi-28NE using 9M120 Ataka missile

Iraqi Army Aviation received its first batch of Mi-28NE on August 28th, 2014. They were engaged in combat quickly. On 1st February 2015, a new batch of two helicopters was delivered by Antonov An-124 transport aircraft. By April, the "Havocs" were deployed to Camp Taji, some of them were used for the training of new pilots on the type. The Iraqi Mi-28 were already seen carrying rockets launchers, but never with ATGM, so that we wondered if the Iraqis had received some. This recent video below shows the FLIR of an Iraqi Mi-28NE in combat. It uses its canon and for the fist time the launching of one 9M120 Ataka missile (AT-9 Spiral-2) can be seen.

Translation :

Pilot 1 :
- "Ataka"
- "Has the missile been dispatched ?"
Pilot 2 :
- "It has been fired and is on it's way !"
Pilot 1 :
- "Can you switch the target now ?"

Video : TV documentary on Iraqi Army Aviation

This documentary about Iraqi Army Aviation was broadcast on Iraqi TV Saturday, August 15th, 2015 (Mi-28, Mi-35, Mi-17, Bell IA-407, Eurocopter EC-635, UH-1H)

Libyan Army Mi-35P are now active

By Green Lemon and Arnaud Delalande

Background

After the election of 2012, Libya was governed by the General National Congress (GNC) headed by Muslim Brotherhood with Nouri Abusahmain as president elected in June 2013. In December, the GNC refused to hold new elections and decided an extension of its 18-month mandate for a year until the end of 2014. On February 14th, General Khalifa Haftar, a former officer under regime of Muammar Gaddafi ordered to dissolve the GNC and called for the formation of a caretaker government committee to oversee new elections with little effect on the GNC. On May 16, “Operation Dignity” was launched by General Haftar against the GNC and Islamist armed groups in Benghazi.

New DIY heavy rocket deployed by Iraqi popular mobilization unit.

Image of a new type of rocket appeared on Iraqi social media, reportedly coming from source close to Asaib Ahl Al Haq (AAH).

Iraqi Popular Mobilization Units (PMU) use a huge varieties of DIY heavy rockets.  Al Qaher, Al Batar, Al Ashtar, Falaq-2 improvised rocket assisted munitions (IRAM) are among the most used DIY rockets in Iraq. With the growing use of DIY rockets, whole brigades were dedicated to the development and the use of DIY rockets like Badr's Katiba Sawarikh Ababil. The DIY rockets differ in name, shape, weight but they adopt the same basic design which consist of  a (heavy) warhead and a rocket engine.

The discreet use of BGM-71 TOW ATGM in Iraq points to Iran

The discreet use of BGM-71 TOW ATGM in Iraq points to Iran

Iraqi security forces (ISF) and popular mobilization units (PMU) are fully engaged in a bloody fight against the self-named "Islamic State" (ISIS) and their local allies since June 2014 and the fall of Mosul city. In this fight, foreign support to Iraqi government revealed to be crucial. After the rapid expansion of ISIS, Iran poured fighters and military support into Iraq.  The not exhaustive list of Iranian military assistance to Iraq includes  IRGC Su-25K and Su-25UBK, M-40 106mm recoilless canon & 107mm MRLS variant of Safir tactical, 120mm HM-20 and HM-27 MRLS, AM.50 sniper, T-72S MBT, rifles, night vision equipments, munitions. On the anti-tank guided missiles (ATGM) ground,  ISF and PMU are lightly equipped with Russian supplied 9M133 Kornet (ATGM) that some analysts took for the Iranian variant of the missile, the Dehlaviyeh. Despite producing a significant varieties of ATGMs, there was no evidence of Iranian supplied ATGM... until the battle of Jurf al Sakhr in October 2014. Indeed, Fars News Agency, an Iranian semi-official news agency, released a report on Jurf Al Sakhr on the 26th October 2014 who went unnoticed. Was included in the article a picture of Asaib-Ahl-Al-Haq fighters posing in front of a TOW ATGM launcher. 

New photos and video of Iraqi Mi-28NE training pilots

Pictures and videos of "Havoc" helicopters are rare because they are involved in a limited way for the lack of readiness of the crews. These footage were taken in Camp Taji few weeks ago during training mission for new Mi-28NE pilots. Currently, many pilots of others squadrons are sollicited to make the role of navigator. These two photos below were taken by a pilot of 21st Armed Reco Squadron who were involved in these training missions.

Iraqi Army Aviation used improvised base to be closer to the fighting

During the battle of Tikrit on March, Iraqi Army Aviation used an improvised base near Samarra to support operations over the city (see IQAF and IAA in the battle of Tikrit). Other type of airstrips are used by Iraqi forces like parts of highways for maintenance and refueling. Shortly before the liberation of the city, Bell IA-407 and Mi-171E were spotted by Badr Brigade fighters on the highway east. Actually, with the increase of the number of sorties, any valid place is used to drop helicopters.

New drone video in Iraq lifts a corner of the veil on Iranian drone program

By @green_lemonnn

If Iranian drones in Iraq are new to you, please make you sure have read Adam Rawnsley articles on this subject (1).

Since the Fall of Mosul one year ago, Iran is fully committed to the Iraqi government in his anti-"Islamic State" organization fight. On the ground, the army of the Guardians of the Islamic Revolution (IRGC) advisors were dispatched on various fronts to support Iraqi security forces. On the air, Iranian air force occasionally bombed Islamic State positions in Diyala & Salahuddin provinces (2). Iranian drones also joined the battle in the early July 2014 (3). While it's still unclear if the drones are operated by Iranian operators, it's now well known that Iranian made drones are used under Iraqi flag (4) or directly by Popular Mobilisation units (5).

Meeting du centenaire de la BA705 de Tours

Ce dimanche 7 juin avait lieu le meeting du centenaire de la base aérienne 705 de Tours. C'est en effet le 1er octobre 1915 qu'est créé sur le site un premier centre d'entrainement sur biplan Caudron. En 1916, les premiers volontaires américains y sont formés. L'année suivante, l’armée américaine y transfert sa propre école. Jusqu'à la seconde guerre mondiale, vont se succéder plusieurs unités équipées de Potez XV, Bréguet 14 et 19, Potez 25, Nieuport 622, puis Potez 540 et Bloch 200 en 1937. En 1952, grâce à la création d'une nouvelle piste, la base peut accueillir les Mosquito puis les Meteor du groupe "Lorraine" qui sera rejoint par les groupes "Loire" et "Champagne" l'année suivante pour former la 30ème ECTT (Escadre de Chasse Tout Temps).

My publications in June

This month, I publish in June issue of Combat Aircraft Monthly with a Combat Report about operation Decisive Storm and Air Forces / aircrafts known to be involved in the air campaign. Ce mois-ci, je publie dans le numéro de juin de Combat Aircraft Monthly avec un article sur l'opération Decisive Storm et les forces aériennes / appareils engagés dans la campagne aérienne.

Video - Chinook and Blackhawk from 160th SOAR in Iraq

The 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, also known as Task Force 160 (TF-160) or "Night Stalkers", is a special operations force of the United States Army that provides helicopter aviation support for general purpose forces and special operations forces. Missions include insertion/extraction of special operations forces (SOF), attack/assault, reconnaissance with the following helicopters:

    - MH-47E/G Chinook
    - MH-60K/L/M Black Hawk
    - MH-60L DAP (gunship variant)
    - AH-6 / MH-6 "Little Bird"

Normandie-Niemen: The French pilots of the Red Army

War rages in Europe. The country, defeated and occupied, continues to fight for freedom under the name of Free France, led by de Gaulle from London. In 1941, Hitler sweeping the USSR. The General proposes to send a French fighter squadron to help the Soviet army. A crazy project, which annoys allies. But de Gaulle persists and forms a squadron with the colors of Free France to fight in the east alongside the Soviets. "Normandie-Niemen" was born. The idea will allow France to sit at the table of winners. Focus on training and action, thanks in particular to unpublished documents (in French).

La guerre fait rage en Europe. Le pays, vaincu et occupé, continue à se battre pour la liberté sous l'appellation de France libre, dirigée par de Gaulle depuis Londres. En 1941, Hitler déferle sur l'URSS. Le général propose d'y envoyer une escadrille de chasse française afin de venir en aide à l'armée soviétique. Un projet fou, qui contrarie les alliés. Mais de Gaulle persiste et forme une escadrille aux couleurs de la France Libre pour combattre à l'Est aux côtés des Soviétiques. «Normandie-Niémen» est née. L'idée permettra à la France de siéger à la table des vainqueurs. Gros plan sur cette formation et son action, grâce, notamment, à des documents inédits.