Navigating the Hurdles of Iraq’s Army Aviation Command: Strategies for Success

The Iraqi Army Aviation Command (IAAC) is encountering obstacles in its battle against ISIS due to various elements, as per a US Department of Defense assessment. The ongoing conflict in Ukraine is hindering the IAAC’s capability to procure spare components for their Russian-manufactured Mi-17 helicopters, as a significant amount of parts are being diverted to support Russian military operations in Ukraine.

The Iraqi Air Force’s fixed-wing Russian aircraft have not been affected by parts accessibility; however, they have faced delays in shipping because of the higher priority given to shipments destined for Ukraine. The IAAC has made requests for assistance from the Counter-ISIS Train and Equip Fund (CTEF), yet the coalition lacks an aviation support initiative. The audit also revealed that the IAAC struggles with forecasting necessary aircraft maintenance, resulting in challenges in obtaining repair parts and fuel.

To tackle these issues, the US is collaborating with the Iraqi Ministry of Defense to transition the entire IAAC fleet to US-manufactured aircraft, thereby simplifying parts procurement, maintenance, and training. Iraq has initiated Foreign Military Sales requests for 15 new Bell 505 training helicopters, 15 new Bell 407M light attack helicopters, 4 Bell 412EPX, and 16 Bell 412M medium-lift helicopters, along with support packages from Eurocopter and Bell.

Nonetheless, the report indicated that investigations are ongoing regarding technical complications with Bell 407 helicopters, following a hard landing in November 2022. If a malfunction of the engine governor is validated as the issue, it may necessitate a stand-down of the ISF’s Bell 407 helicopter fleet for a thorough inspection of all engines.

In summary, the Iraqi Army Aviation Command is confronting various challenges in its efforts against ISIS, such as issues with parts accessibility, forecasting aircraft maintenance, and technical complications with helicopters. The US is partnering with the Iraqi Ministry of Defense to modernize the IAAC fleet, but further inquiries into technical complications could potentially lead to a stand-down of the helicopter fleet.