a nice little flypast…

Iraq’s second batch of Mi28Ne do have the mast mounted radars… so the Russians and other potential operators will certainly have them (including Algeria at a minimum).

http://ic.pics.livejournal.com/bmpd/38024980/1685300/1685300_original.jpg

whether such a radar gives any “useful” air to air detection capability to allow for anti-helicopter / anti-drone operations to be carried out effectively remains to be seen however.

Iraq should have bought Ka-52, which is already flying with a full defensive suit and with DIRCM.

Buying Mi-28 without even MAWS is just stupid. I have been wondering why VVS itself is doing that, when the Mi-28 has flown with MAWS, as seen on the export show bird.

Sheytan how many sorties have Mi-35s flown?

I believe Iraq is still looking to get KA-52s, but we don’t know when though.

The Mi35M and Mi28Ne don’t currently have any MAWS etc… but even US made MAWS on the IA-407 helicopter didn’t help deflect the FN-6 SAM… and that’s probably because they only use flares and not a DIRCM perhaps the Iraqis and Russians will now fit a Russian MAWS/DIRCM system to see its effectiveness?

The Mi35Ms have flown about 3000 combat missions since they entered service at the beginning of the year. 2 have been lost since then, both shot down by MANPADs. But they undertake the most dangerous missions currently in Iraq, and so losses should be taken in that light.

Back on track, I think the A-10 and Su-25 are the right planes to use, if the other side hasn’t got access to good manpads. If they do these planes are going to suffer.

IS have shot down 2 Iraqi helicopters with FN-6 MANPADS. one of the helicopters (an IA-407 scout) was fitted with AAR-47 MAWS and automated flare dispenser. The other helicopter (Mi35M was not fitted with MAWS).

I would say “rumours” have included Iraq buying 7-8 second hand helos from Greece!

maybe AB205s ?

according to the Iraqi AF commander they have the following deals for fighter aircraft:
US for F16IQ
Korea for T50IQ (FA50)
Czech for L159
Russia for “second hand sukhois” (SU25)
Russia for “new” aircraft
China for “aircraft”

make of that what you will.

But there’s already lots of noise coming out regarding the F16IQ deal.

The US want the Iraqis to pay up front for the various $1Bn+ infrastructure and support contracts they signed last winter (see a few pages back)… the Iraqis are saying… no deliver the first F16s (that we’ve already paid for), then we’ll continue sending payments for the “infrastructure and support” contracts.

The americans want the iraqis to send more money so they have them over a barrel (without having delivered any aircraft), the Iraqis, for obvious reasons, aren’t going to fall for it so easily.

Anyway, they can take that $1Bn over to the People’s Republic of China and see what they can get for it (the US was offering a couple of hangars, and some US “security contractors” and a couple of dozen maintenance techs for $1bn…) I’m sure the chinese can “beat” that deal quite easily… maybe a couple of squadrons of JF17s with full equipment and ground support… that they can probably begin delivering “quite soon”?

Thus… despite everything that’s ongoing in Iraq and despite the reassurance of the Air Force Commander, there’s rumblings about “asking for a refund” if the US doesn’t deliver the first jets on time…

fingers crossed that the US honors its liabilities and does send the money back! though i am not hopeful. we may have to bite the bullet and cut our losses sadly 🙁 anyway, its not the worst loss we’ve had over the past decade… sadly.

There was an interview with the Iraqi AF commander and he did say that the deal with Czech is still on.

appolagies if this is discussed elsewhere, but what is this about Iraq buying 6 Su-30K’s and giving them to Iran?

buying them
giving them to Iran

it was a “made up” thing. The only things confirmed by Iraq are:
-Iran returning some of the Iraqi jets. (no mention of numbers) – importantly this does NOT constitute an “arms purchase” by Iraq from Iran… its simply a “return” of ex-iraqi aircraft as opposed to say buying second hand F5s or Cobras from Iran.
-Russia and Belarus delivering second hand jets to Iraq (once again, types and quantities are only confirmed by MOD when these are delivered! don’t listen to what various “iraqi media” make up along the way… the only “true” info is from mod.mil.iq)

I suspect the SU-30K to Iran is a bit of “artistic licence” by Pro-Iran fanboys. But lets wait and see… stranger things have happened.