Iraqi Paramilitary Aviation

Iraqi Paramilitary Aviation

IRAQI PARAMILITARY AVIATION • Iraqi Federal Police / Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF)
Paramilitary ε266,000 personnel (includes ε36,000 Federal Police and ε180,000 PMF).Status: Subordinate to the Ministry of Interior and the Office of the Prime Minister. Mission: Internal security, counter-terrorism, and border interdiction.

Forces by Role & Equipment by Type
Paramilitary Uncrewed & Support Command

• AIRCRAFT Total 0 (Organic).

• Independent fixed-wing assets are not maintained by the Federal Police; transport and strategic ISR needs are satisfied by the Iraqi Air Force using C-130J and King Air 350 platforms.

• HELICOPTER Total 0 (Organic).

• Rotary-wing support for internal security and counter-insurgency is provided via the Iraqi Army Aviation Command, which manages a centralized fleet of Bell 407, H135, Mi-8/171, and H225M helicopters.

• UNMANNED AERIAL SYSTEMS (UAS) & LOITERING MUNITIONS

• Combat & ISR (Medium): Mohajer 6.
• Loitering Munitions / Direct Attack: Ababil T; Shahed 101; Shahed 131.

• ARMAMENT (Supporting Units)

• Air-to-Surface Missiles (ASM): AGM-114 Hellfire; AGR-20A APKWS (Laser-guided rockets utilized by supporting Air Force and Army Aviation assets during joint security operations).

Note: By 2026, the aviation capability of Iraqi paramilitary forces is defined by a heavy reliance on the national air commands. While the establishment of an organic aviation branch for the Counter-Terrorism Service (CTS) and specialized police units has been mooted to enhance operational autonomy, these manned assets remain in the planning and funding phase. Currently, organic "air power" within the paramilitary sector is strictly limited to uncrewed systems operated by the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), which utilize medium-altitude ISR drones and a variety of loitering munitions for localized strikes and reconnaissance. The overall force benefits from the 2023 reopening of the Air Force College, which has begun increasing the number of personnel trained to coordinate with ground-based security units.