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Iraqi Security Force Update: September 2009
09/02/2009

 

IraqBdeOOB

Iraqi and US Combat Brigade OOB as of August 31, 2009.

   

This Iraqi Security Force Update provides a summary of changes to the ISF during August 2009.  The Iraqi Security Force Order of Battle as of 31 August 2009 is published at Montrose Toast.

      

Peshmerga

    

Prime Minister Maliki has apparently reached an agreement with Kurdish leaders regarding the status of the Kurdish Regional Guard. According to Member of Parliment Firyad Rawandouzi, from the Kurdistani Alliance, Maliki agreed to absorb the Peshmerga into the “national defense apparatus”. The agreement would facilitate the transfer and commissioning of two new divisions (15th and 16th). The remaining Peshmerga members would either be absorbed into the police force, civilian institutions or be retired.

    

The two divisions being commissioned only account for 30,000 of the 100,000 active Kurdish Regional Guards.  Even with 25,000 to 30,000 Peshmerga transferred to the Iraqi Police, there are the equivalent of three more divisions of personnel to be absorbed into the “national defense apparatus”. 

    

There are 90,000 additional inactive Peshmerga that the Kurdish Regional Government has been negotiating retirement pensions for.

    

Iraqi Army

  

On August 27, the US 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division Public Affairs released an article about first aid training being provided to the Iraqi Army 49th Brigade.  This training report is the first report of the 49th Brigade. However, it should be noted that the report does not indicate the 49th Brigade of the 12 Division is operational yet.  This increases the brigades in the Iraqi Army to 57.

    

On August 17, the 52nd Brigade was reported conducting field maneuvers near the Iranian border. Of interest, the 52nd Brigade was called a "Navy Brigade" in the reporting.  This indicates that the brigade may be transferring to the Iraqi Marines.

    

Mortar training has been continuing.  The 48th Brigade is training on 120mm Mortars.  There were 10 brigades planned to get 120mm mortar batteries this year.  Eight have now been identified:  the 20/5, 30/8, 38/10, 42/11, 23/17, 46/12, 47/12, & 48/12 Brigades.  Battalion level 81mm mortar "platoons" are also continuing training.

     

Iraqi Air Force

     

The Iraqi Air Force received a new headquarters on 23 August 2009. The new base is located at the Victory Base complex and called "Hawk Base".

     

On August 12, a notice of a contract award “to provide for seven T-6A,Texan II training aircraft including ground based training systems, aircraft spare parts, technical publications, and two years of contractor logistics for the Iraqi Air Force” was announce.  A second notice was announce on August 17, “to provide for 8 T-6A Texan II training aircraft."  In response to a request for information and clarification, Daryl Mayer of the 88th Air Base Wing Public Affairs stated that:  "The contract you asked about was awarded for 8 T-6As with an option for 7 additional T-6As.”

  

Reporting of possible loan, lease, or donation of used US F-16 fighters continues to be mentioned by senior officers and officials.  "The Air Force aims to retire 134 F-16s and 112 F-15s in 2010, if Congress approves the cuts.”  Not all of the F-16s planned to be removed from USAF service would have worthwhile service life left in them.  However, if 75 percent were, that would equip five fighter squadrons of the Iraqi Air Force.

         

At the end of August, there was a series of press reports about 19 MiG-21 and MiG-23 aircraft being returned from Serbia. These aircraft were sent to Yugoslavia for servicing in 1989 and never returned. These obsolete aircraft are not in good condition.  According to the Serbs, most of the planes are cannibalized, abandoned and useless. Only two or three are still in one piece and that includes one MiG-23 that was on static display outside Belgrade's aircraft museum.

           

Iraqi Federal Police

   

The Iraqi Ministry of Interior is planning to establish an aviation squadron.  The Iraqi government is to purchase 15 aircraft from the United States to use in border control and the implementation of “other special functions."  Other special functions probably means supporting the airmobile Emergency Response Force battalions.

       

The plan to establish a Federal Police brigade in every province continues and now includes the Kurdish Regional Government. 

  • "Lt. Col Mohammed Al Baydani said the Federal Police have a plan to set up a brigade headquarters in every province, including the self-ruled Kurdistan region, over the next two years."
  • "Today, the Federal Police is comprised of four divisions and 17 brigades, including a mechanized and sustainment brigade and the Al-Askari Brigade that is dedicated to providing security for Al-Askari mosque in Samarra during the its reconstruction."

   

The seventeenth brigade has sense been identified as Iraq's Wassit Federal Police Brigade.  The Wassit Emergency Police Brigade has been ‘Nationalized’ and transferred to the Federal Police.

    

Camp Dublin may be the new future headquarters location for the Ministry of Interior’s Emergency Response Force. Also, that force may have started forming its second brigade."The clinic facility at Camp Dublin will support up to 2,000 students at the Federal Police Training Center as well as some tenet units at Camp Dublin, such as emergency response brigades."

    

US Forces - Iraq

  

Of interest, the replacement of the USMC in Anbar has commenced.  The 1st Brigade of the 82nd Airborne Division has arrived in Anbar and is to be that area's "Advisory and Assitance Brigade".  The two US Marine Regimental Combat Teams are phasing out as their battalions reach the end of their tours.

   

Articles on Iraq published in August:      

 

Graet ,, i think that The Airofrc is doing good .. i would prefer you put some article on The M1a1 Training Updates ...

Almaleki (09/03/2009 11:27:40)

 

Hi DJ This is an article by Reuters, about the plans for the future of Iraq getting F-16. The important note here is that Iraq will get a multirole fighter by 2012, either from the US or elsewhere. Read the article and tell me what think Thanx http://www.reuters.com/article/politicsNews/idUSTRE5817DG20090902

Jack winters (09/03/2009 03:05:36)

 

Jack: Nothing new there except the engines. I might have to revise my estimate as to how many F16s of the 134 being "retired" are still functional. Revised up. I estimated 75 percent operational, which would fill five squadrons plus spares. If it is only engine replacements needed, that changes to seven potential Fighter Squadrons./// Note: I suspect the playing up of the Serbian MiGs is indirect pressure. Sending the signal that "either the US provides or the GoI will go elsewhere..."

DJ Elliott (09/03/2009 03:40:35)

 

that is good thing right DJ ,, then US will give the Jets Faster ??? what Do you really speculate DJ ??

Almaleki (09/03/2009 06:37:15)

 

Decision has not been made. But the decision is to happen this year. The transfer will require Congressional approval to remove them from USAF inventory and to export...

DJ Elliott (09/03/2009 06:48:50)

 

then if we used intensive training by 2013 we will have 96 capable F-16s ?? why dont we also buy some J-10s and Rafale to fill the other squadrons ??

Almaleki (09/03/2009 09:03:31)

 

Where are you getting the money? The reason they are working on this deal is that Iraq has no credit and does not have the money to buy all those toys. Iraq can afford about a squadron a year of jet fighters in addition to the helos, boats, tanks, APCs, etc. What we are doing is looking at providing a stopgap of used aircraft, that will need to be replaced in the next 5-10 years. Aircraft do not fly forever, they do wear out, and these are aircraft we were retiring...

DJ Elliott (09/03/2009 09:43:28)

 

I am speculating here. But with a number of countries showing interest in the S400 triumf system from Russia (including Turkey, Egypt, Saudi, SK among others), I wonder if the S400 triumf system can create a credible high altitude ground-based air-defence cover and early warning network that can be setup in relatively concentrated formations in Iraq. With the advertised effective -engagement- range of the system at high altitude being 400km (slant range) It can provide an 800km diameter envelope in the flat terrain regions of Iraq per battery. Each battery being located approx 100km from the border. With Iraq having about 4000km of border to cover, 6-7 batteries should provide pretty adequate early warning + high altitude air defence capability (that of course needs some low altitude defence for the batteries themselves). A 6 battery system should cost less than $2Bn and also provide Iraq with a measure of defence vs Syrian/Iranian Ballistic Missiles. Of course S400 does not live in isolation, and is certainly no substitute for an "air force"... but It would certainly give Iraqis a measure of self-defence capability (and more importantly sends an important message to neighbours with ideas) whilst they slowly build their AF up. With NATO countries seemingly being cleared to buy it, I see no reason for the Russians to refuse to sell it to Iraq.

sheytanelkebir (09/04/2009 03:30:47)

 

Like you said, speculation. There are no signs of IMoD negotiating for that High altitude only system. Nor any signs of any SAMs being negotiated for.../// And how long for delivery and training AFTER Russia gets payed?/// Then there is the Iraqi MoD's adversion to "Russian Junk."/// Pure speculation and not in the Iraqi budget.///

DJ Elliott (09/04/2009 09:51:43)

 

a new twist to the serbian aircraft saga. finally the iraqis seem to be understanding that the planes in serbia are writeoffs and gateguards at best... Interesting that the serbs are using the opportunity to try and offload some of their fishbeds LOL! http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hzRjVbdhE5QJR9p3wR0fZgzVMmqQD9AGLNR80

sheytanelkebir (09/05/2009 02:36:05)

 

sheytanelkebir: The only thing I can say about that is they might actually be flyable manned target drones./// Those obsolete aircraft were not all that effective in the Iran-Iraq War. They were the least effective aircraft in the Iraqi inventory. Why they would they want to waste money on them?//// I still think it is pure indirect political presure to get the USG to donate the 134 F16s. "We will get our aircraft elsewhere if you do not provide."/// Really crazy thought: What if the USG donated the 134 used F16s and the 112 used F15s? Seven F16 Squadrons and six F15 Squadrons would be an effective air defense force...

DJ Elliott (09/05/2009 03:38:37)

 

yup, you're on the ball DJ. As I mentioned before the iraqis like to huff and puff, talk-the-talk (as they say). They were also talking about talking with dassault etc earlier last month... i'm guessing its all part of the game to get donated f16s... (i'm pretty sure the iraqis will not even buy the 18 new builds now, simply hold out for hand me downs). F15s are probably not worth the hassle operationally-speaking (but lifecycle costs are something the iraqis are not renowned for calculating), so anything's possible.

sheytanelkebir (09/05/2009 07:01:54)

 

more items that the iraqis are looking to recover... http://www.airliners.net/photo/Iraq---Air/Dassault-Mirage-F1BQ/1574495/L/&sid=67d3a7c6070968ce6d4d5f5cef34560d

sheytanelkebir (09/05/2009 09:39:40)

 

DJ, not a bad idea. It would be a better use from America's perspective than letting them sit mothballed. It would be a great "get" for Maliki to flaunt before the Iraqi people before the elections. It would also drive the "lovely neighbors" nuts. :LOL: Would love to do it just to see their reaction.

anan (09/06/2009 08:25:32)

 

Jack: Remember those "interceptors" that France got the contract for?//// This is what they are: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/onthefrontline/6146571/James-Bond-style-100mph-Navy-interceptor-to-take-to-the-seas.html

DJ Elliott (09/07/2009 04:26:48)

 

DJ These boats are awesome. But what makes you sure that these are the boats that Iraq will get??? Are they made by the company that got the contract or what???

jack winters (09/07/2009 07:09:42)

 

Interceptor is the class name that was on the bid reported. Given the nature of the vessel, it is a perfect fit for the enlarging Iraqi Marines. One squad per boat.

DJ Elliott (09/07/2009 09:03:59)

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