The Iraqi air force is back in the air-to-ground attack business using fixed wing aircraft.
After months of preparation, with a heavy focus on rules of engagement, an Iraq AC-208 Combat Caravan this month for the first time fired an AGM-114 laser-guided Hellfire missile. The test, where the three-person crew belonging to Squadron 3 launched the weapon, took place at a bombing range near Al Asad air base, according to the U.S. advisors working on rebuilding the IqAF.
[Credit: MNSTC-I]
The IqAF already had a limited ground-support capability since some of its Mi-17s have rocket pods, but the Hellfire represents a big step forward in combat capability. In a statement, IqAF commander Lt. Gen. Anwar Hamad Amen Ahmed said that “these rockets will have a great and active role in fighting terrorism in all parts of Iraq."
Other air-to-ground capabilities are on the drawing board, including fitting Mi-17s with laser-guided rockets for greater precision.
The focus in rebuilding the IqAF has first been to provide support for the Iraqi army, particularly in counter-insurgency operations. A full-fledged fighter combat capability is planned, but not for several years.
On the Caravan, it's certainly no sexy tactical fast mover, but every pilot (including 'eggbeaters') can fly it, it's a proven 'bush-flyer' with good rough field STOL performance, and it's really cheap. For these reasons alone it has good COIN potential - which doesn't mean it needs to carry weapons like some mini-A-10.
For unarmed liason, light transport, observation and psyops (pamflet), a two-ship flight attached to forward deployed battalions could prove real usefull.