Aircraft

The Iraqi air force accepted its first of six Hawker Beechcraft King Air 350ER utility and reconnaissance aircraft in Baghdad on 28 December, as part of a more than $130 million deal with US industry.

Configured for pilot training, utility and VIP transport duties, the first Iraqi aircraft (pictured below) is now being used to support activities from Kirkuk air base, with deliveries of a further five aircraft equipped to perform intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance tasks to commence around April, according to the US Air Force. The Iraqi air force also last October accepted its first Cessna 208 Caravan to support multi-engine pilot training activities at Kirkuk.

© US Air Force

Iraq's next five King Airs will carry mission equipment including General Atomics Lynx synthetic-aperture radar/ground moving target indication sensors and L-3 Wescam MX-15 electro-optical/infrared pods, under a $53 million subcontract placed with General Atomics last year.

Hawker Beechcraft declined to comment on the utility aircraft delivery to Iraq.