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Iraqi Air Force exercises its precision air-to-ground attack capability

  • Published
  • Air Component Coordination Element-Iraq Public Affairs
SATHER AIR BASE, Baghdad --  U.S. Air Force Air Advisors of the 321st Air Expeditionary Wing marked an Advise, Train, Assist and Equip milestone Monday, highlighting the success of their Iraqi Air Force counterparts following the second ever Hellfire rocket launch from an Iraqi Air Force AC-208 Cessna Caravan.

Departing a Northern Iraqi Air Base, the Hellfire-equipped aircraft led a classic two-ship formation with an all-Iraqi aircrew. The chase aircraft was also flown by an Iraqi aircrew, and carried one Air Advisor and a joint Iraqi Air Force and U.S. Army Combat Camera team to document the flawless missile-launch.

The Iraqi aircrew launched the Hellfire weapon more than three miles from their ground target at an altitude of more than 5,000 feet. The AC-208 Iraqi mission sensor operator guided the weapon onto the target and confirmed the direct hit - the center of three vehicles on the Aziziyah training range, south of Baghdad.

Following the mission, the AC-208 aircrews landed at an Air Base near Baghdad for refueling and a post-mission debrief. On arrival, they were congratulated by fellow Iraqi Airmen, U.S. Air Advisors, and Brig. Gen. Scott Hanson, Director of the Iraqi Training and Advisory Mission - Air Force and 321st Air Expeditionary Wing Commander.

"Today's successful precision-guided weapon exercise marks another advancement in Iraqi air power. The Iraqi Air Force incorporated a complex mix of targets, overhead surveillance, plus command and control for weapons release from their air operations center," said Brig. Gen. Hanson. "The entire event from planning, to aircraft maintenance and weapons loading, to destroying the target with a single Hellfire missile reflects a tremendous level of professionalism demonstrated by their Airmen."

Since the Iraqi Air Force completed their first-ever Hellfire launch in November 2009 (also with a direct hit of the training target), Airmen of Iraqi Squadron 3, have trained continuously for the mission, mastering the weapons load, target attack and airmanship skills necessary to maintain proficiency. Air Advisors of the 521st Air Expeditionary Advisory Squadron work shoulder-to-shoulder as partners in the effort.

"Today's successful live fire mission highlighted two things," said Lt. Col. Adrian Schuettke, 521st AEAS commander. "First, it showcased the admirable amount of concentration and discipline the Iraqi Air Force crews have placed on improving their kinetic attack capability. Second, it reflected the absolutely astounding level of dedication of our past and present American Air Advisors, deployed far from home, to support and assist our Iraqi counterparts."