Iraqi Air Force (IQAF)

Iraqi Air Force (IQAF) • Al Quwwat al-Jawwiya al-Iraqiya

The force is currently focused on modernization and self-sufficiency, bolstered by a significant 46% uplift in the defense budget (to $10.3 billion) intended to fund new acquisitions such as the Dassault Rafale or JF-17 Thunder.

IRAQI AIR FORCE (IQAF) • Al Quwwat al-Jawwiya al-Iraqiya
Air Force ε5,000 personnel. Strategy: Modernizing to independently sustain operational effectiveness against insurgent threats while transitioning from a coalition-dependent posture.

Forces by Role & Equipment by Type

• AIRCRAFT 62 combat capable.

Fighter & Fighter Ground Attack:

• 26 General Dynamics F-16C/IQ Fighting Falcon.
• 9 Aero Vodochody L-159A.

Attack & Close Air Support:

• 25 Sukhoi Su-25 Frogfoot.
• 2 Cessna AC-208 Combat Caravan.

Special Mission (ISR / Reconnaissance):

• 7 Seabird Aviation CH2000 (Recce).
• 6 Beechcraft King Air 350 (Recce).
• 2 Cessna 208 (Recce).
• 2 de Havilland Canada DHC-6 (Recce).

Transport:

• 6 Lockheed Martin C-130J Hercules.
• 5 Antonov An-32.
• 3 Lockheed Martin C-130E Hercules.
• 1 Beechcraft King Air 350.

Training:

• 24 Korea Aerospace Industries T-50IQ Golden Eagle.
• 19 UTVA Lasta 95.
• 16 Aero Vodochody L-39 Albatros.
• 15 Beechcraft T-6A Texan II.
• 10 PAC MFI-395 Super Mushshak (2 additional on order).
• 8 General Dynamics F-16D/IQ.
• 5 Sukhoi Su-25.
• 4 Cessna 208.
• 1 Aero Vodochody L-159T1.

• HELICOPTER 2 active.

Transport & Utility:

• 2 Mil Mi-8 Hip.

• UNMANNED AERIAL SYSTEMS (UAS)

Combat & ISR (Heavy / Medium):

• 12 CH-4 (CISR).
• Mohajer 6 (Operated primarily by affiliated militia elements).

• AIR-LAUNCHED WEAPONS

• Air-to-Surface Missiles (ASM): AGM-114 Hellfire; AGR-20A APKWS; 9K114 Shturm (AT-6 Spiral); AR-1; Ingwe.
• Precision Bombs: FT-9 (Guided); GBU-10/12 Paveway II.

Note: By 2026, Iraq has reopened its Air Force College at a refurbished base southeast of Baghdad to bolster domestic pilot production. While equipment is a diverse mix of Soviet-era, Russian, and Western platforms, the service continues to face logistics support challenges and remains in a transition period from coalition dependency to independent battle management. Strategic interests remain focused on border security and the continued suppression of insurgent pockets.