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Thursday, January 27, 2011

Iraq’s Air Force is unprepared to defend the skies

T-6A Texan IIMore than eight years after arriving in the country, American troops are readying to leave Iraq by the end of December, but defense analysts say the US Air Force will likely be staying for years to come.

Iraq’s Air Force won’t ready to maintain air sovereignty any time in the foreseeable future, the experts said. Last year, the government announced its intention of purchasing 18 F-16 Block 52 multi-role interceptors in an effort to fast track its way to an effective air defense, but delivery will only begin in 2013 and even this date is reportedly being pushed back, they said

“I don’t think the US Air Force will be able to leave Iraq for at least five years, as there’s no way that the Iraqis alone will be able to deal with any kind of air threat for this period,” said Brig.-Gen. (ret.) Musa Qallab, an independent defense expert and former program manager for Gulf Cooperation Council Defense Issues Gulf Research Center in Dubai.

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