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IqAF edges closer to joint integration after hellfire missile test

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Jason Lake
  • 321st Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
BAGHDAD --  The Iraqi air force took a big leap toward air and ground force integration after an AC-208 Cessna Caravan successfully attacked a target called in by Iraqi Special Operations Forces at the Aziziyah Training Range March 23.

A two-ship formation of Iraqi air force Cessnas from Squadron 3 at Kirkuk Air Base, Iraq, fired a single air-to-ground missile after receiving ground target coordinates and direction from Iraqi forward air controllers inserted near the target area by Mi-17 helicopters from Camp Taji.

The exercise marked the first time ITAM - Air advisors took a complete hands-off approach as their Iraqi counterparts coordinated between the aircrews, ISR aircraft and air operations center staff.

"This is a great day for the Iraqi air force," said Brig. Gen. Anthony Rock, Iraq Training and Advisory Mission - Air director, who observed the mission from an intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance monitoring station at New Al-Muthana Air Base, Baghdad. "From the Iraqi forward air controllers coordinating with the attack aircraft ... to the arming and release of the hellfire missile - this capability is key to the Iraqi air force's ability to provide internal security and external defense." 

The exercise also marked the third time ever that Iraqi air force aircraft fired an AGM-114 Hellfire missile in three years as the scenarios increase in complexity and scope between joint Iraqi military forces.

"The goal of this exercise was to get ground forces talking to the air force before employing ordnance," explained Erik Jorgensen, ITAM - Air, operations division ground attack chairman. "The training role this time around was with the ground forces advisors who will now go over the lessons learned with the aircrews and ground forces."

With the help of ITAM - Air advisors, the Iraqi air force first tested its ability to load, aim and fire the missile from an AC-208 on a single target in October 2009. In November 2010, under ITAM - Air supervision, the Iraqi air force practiced precision engagement firing a single hellfire missile at a single target between two other targets after receiving the order from the air operations center in Baghdad. In both tests, the Iraqi air force successfully destroyed their target.

As the December 31 security agreement deadline approaches for nearly 50,000 U.S. military forces in the country, Iraqi air force leadership said the hellfire missile test was a critical step in measuring the country's ability to defend itself.

"It was a great feeling watching the test today," said the Iraqi air force director of operations shortly after exercise. "The most important success of today's operation was the level of coordination between our aircraft and special forces on the ground. This exercise played a crucial role in building our counter-terrorism capabilities."