Mi-171E delivery

CAMP TAJI, Iraq -- Brig. Gen. Anthony Rock, Iraq Training and Advisory Mission - Air director, participates in an Mi-171E helicopter blessing ceremony with Iraqi Army Aviation Command officials June 8. More than a dozen ITAM-Air and Iraq Security Assistance Mission advisors attended a ceremony celebrating the arrival of two helicopters purchased by the Iraqis. ITAM-Air advises, trains, equips and assists their Iraqi partners on various aircraft and mission support roles. (U.S. Air Force/Tech. Sgt. Jason Lake)

Mi-171E delivery

CAMP TAJI, Iraq -- An Iraqi Army Aviation Command soldier marshals in two new Mi-171E helicopters as they arrive June 8. With the help of Iraq Training and Advisory Mission - Air and Iraq Security Assistance Mission advisors, IqAAC officials purchased 22 of the aircraft from Europe last year for more than $150 million. The last two Mi-171 helicopters of the order are expected to be delivered by the end of this month. (U.S. Air Force/Tech. Sgt. Jason Lake)

Two down, two more to go

Published June 11, 2011
By Tech. Sgt. Jason Lake
321st Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

CAMP TAJI, Iraq -- Iraqi and American officials celebrated the delivery of two Mi-171E helicopters June 8.

The delivery marked the eleventh and twelfth Mi-171 helicopters to arrive as part of a 14-aircraft purchase made by the Iraqi government for nearly $190 million last year. The final two Mi-171Es are expected for delivery later this month.

More than a dozen Iraq Training and Advisory Mission-Air and Iraq Security Assistance Mission advisors marked the delivery alongside their Iraqi partners.

"We've had a great partnership to this point and this aircraft is another symbol of that partnership," said Lt. Col. Timothy Penley, the ISAM advisor who facilitates aircraft purchases for the Iraq's Ministry of Defense. "[The M-171 is] a very capable aircraft and it gives them some incredible capabilities."

In total, the Iraqi Army Aviation Command currently has 16 Mi-17 (legacy model Mi-171s) and 20 Mi-171E helicopters in its inventory. The helicopter is a multi-mission aircraft used for a variety of missions including troop and cargo transport, as well as, security over-watch.

More than 30 ITAM-Air advisors from the 721st Air Expeditionary Advisory Group currently train Iraqis from IqAAC's 15 Squadron to fly, maintain and employ the Mi-171. Several U.S. Air Force pilots are training 15 Squadron to fly the Mi-171 using night-vision goggles and conduct joint missions with Iraq Counter-Terrorism Bureau special operations forces.