No. 70 Squadron IqAF

No. 70 Squadron IqAF
Active unknown - 2003
August 2004-current
Country Iraq
Branch Iraqi Air Force
Role Reconnaissance
Size 58 personnel
Base Basra International Airport
Engagements Battle of Basra (2008)
Insignia
Fin Flash
Aircraft flown
Reconnaissance 12 x CH2000

No. 70 Squadron is one of two reconnaissance squadrons of the Iraqi Air Force (IqAF), the other being the No. 3 Sqn IqAF based at Kirkuk Air Base.

In September 1980, at the outbreak of the Iran-Iraq War, the squadron was a reconnaissance unit flying Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21Rs from Rashid air base in Baghdad.[1]

Current use

70 Sqn is based at Basra International Airport and is responsible for securing the southern Iraqi border and protecting Iraqi infrastructure.[2] It currently consists of 12 CH2000 reconnaissance/ liaison aircraft.[3] 2 Seabird Seekers[2][4] had been previously used by the squadron, but now appear to have been withdrawn.

During the Iraqi Army offensive against the Mahdi Army in March 2008, the squadron flew 53 missions over Basra, providing 91 hours of intelligence and reconnaissance to Iraqi Army forces on the ground, including information about enemy troop concentration and bomb damage assessments.[5]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Tom Cooper. "The Tomcat's First Phoenix Kill". War is Boring. Retrieved 19 September 2018.
  2. 1 2 Final.indd
  3. ↑ Iraqi Security Forces Order of Battle Page 3 - Long War Journal
  4. ↑ Air Force Reports- New Iraqi Air Force - MILAVIA
  5. ↑ Iraqi Air Force Executes Over 100 Missions in Support of Operation Charge - Newsblaze.com
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