Iraqi Air Force

Iraqi Air Force
القوات الجوية العراقية Al Quwwat al Jawwiya al Iraqiya
Iraqi Air Force badge
Founded	22 April 1931
Country	Iraq
Branch	Air force
Role	Aerial warfare
Size	Approximately 5,000 (2024)[1] ca. 369 aircraft[2]
Headquarters	Baghdad
Colours	Grey & White
Anniversaries	April 22 (Air Force Day)[3]
Engagements	Anglo-Iraqi War 1948 Arab–Israeli War Six-Day War Yom Kippur War Iran–Iraq War 22 September 1980 Iraqi airstrike on Iran Invasion of Kuwait Gulf War Operation Southern Watch 1991 uprisings in Iraq Iraqi no-fly zones Iraq War War on terror Syrian Civil War
Commanders
Current commander	Lieutenant General Shihab Jahid Ali
Insignia
Roundel (1931–2004) (2019–present)
Fin flash
Flag
Aircraft flown
Attack	Su-25, Aero L-159 Alca, KAI T-50, CH-4B, L-39 Albatros, Bayraktar TB2
Bomber	Antonov An-32
Fighter	F-16 Fighting Falcon
Helicopter	Mil Mi-17, Bell 212, Mil Mi-8
Attack helicopter	Bell OH-58 Kiowa, Mil Mi-24, Mil Mi-28, Aérospatiale Gazelle
Reconnaissance	CH 2000, Ce 208 ISR, KA 350 ISR, ScanEagle, Raven RQ-11B
Trainer	Cessna 172, Cessna 208, T-6A, Utva Lasta 95, Boeing 727, An-26
Transport	C-130 Hercules, C-130J, An-32B, KA 350ER

The Iraqi Air Force (IQAF or IrAF) (Arabic: القوات الجوية العراقية, romanized: Al Quwwat al Jawwiyah al Iraqiyyah) is the aerial warfare service branch of the Iraqi Armed Forces. It is responsible for the defense of Iraqi airspace as well as the policing of its international borders. The IQAF also acts as a support force for the Iraqi Navy and the Iraqi Army, which allows Iraq to rapidly deploy its military. It is headquartered in Baghdad; the current commander is Gen. Shihab Jahid Ali.

The Iraqi Air Force was founded in 1931, during the period of British control in Iraq after their defeat of the Ottomans in the First World War, with only a few pilots. The Iraqi Air Force operated mostly British aircraft until the 14 July Revolution in 1958, when the new Iraqi government began increased diplomatic relationships with the Soviet Union. The air force used both Soviet and British aircraft throughout the 1950s and 1960s. When Saddam Hussein came to power in 1979, the air force grew quickly when Iraq ordered more Soviet and French aircraft. The air force's peak came after the long Iran–Iraq War, which ended in 1988, when it consisted of 1029 aircraft of all types (of which 550 were combat aircraft),^[4] becoming the largest air force in the region. Its downfall came during the Persian Gulf War (1990–91) and continued while coalition forces enforced no-fly zones. The remnants of Iraq's air force were destroyed during the 2003 U.S.-led invasion.

After the invasion, the IQAF was rebuilt, receiving most of its training and aircraft from the United States. In 2007, Iraq asked Iran to return some of the scores of Iraqi fighter planes that flew there to escape destruction during the Persian Gulf War in 1991.^[5] As of 2014, Iran was receptive to the demands and was working on refurbishing an unspecified number of jets.^[6][7]