Montrose Toast

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

Joint Special Forces Strike Teams [Battalions]

In late 2007, Prime Minister Maliki announced plans for “elite” quick reaction force (QRF) battalions in the Iraqi Army.  These battalions were to be equipped with the most modern light armor and used for counter-insurgency. 

During the same time-period, eight battalions worth [336] of BTR-3E1 armored personnel carriers were ordered via US Foreign Military Sales.  The BTR-3E1s were cancelled in 2008 before delivery.  However, the counter-insurgency requirement for eight battalions of light armored vehicles [like the BTR-3E1] remained. 

Also, the QRF battalions were not formed.  Those personnel were needed as experienced cadre for the rapidly expanding Iraqi Army:  The “Real Surge” from 10 Iraqi Army divisions with 35 subordinate brigades to the current 14 divisions with 57 brigades. 

In October 2009, the first reports that those planned “elite” QRF battalions were finally starting to form was released.

The graduation of the first company of the Karkh Area Command Strike Team was the start of a new type of battalion in the Iraqi Security Forces.  Troops from six different units formed the new team, training together for six weeks.  Photography of the graduation illustrated that this forming “Special Forces” battalion is a mixed Iraqi Army and Federal Police joint unit.  The photography also illustrated that the first company has a DZIK3 and robot EOD component.  This is the first class of a battalion team that will number over 400 personnel.  The battalion will be responsible for all quick response operations in Baghdad west of the Tigris River.

There are also reports of a Russian arms sale to Iraq.  One such unconfirmed report includes plans for 360 Russian armored personnel carriers.  The BTR-3E1 is Ukrainian but, the Iraqis have regularly referred to Ukraine as Russia.  Also, the order could be for a Russian BTR-90 variant similar to the Ukrainian BTR-3E1.   

Since Iraq is building a “Strike Team” [battalion] for the Karkh Area Command, then they are also building one for the Rusafa Area Command and for the other six operational commands.  This is the start of forming eight joint “elite” special forces battalions.  

1. Baghdad Operational Command’s Karkh Area Command (KAC Strike Team forming).
2. Baghdad Operational Command’s Rusafa Area Command.
3. Anbar Operational Command headquartered at Ramadi.
4. Basrah Operational Command headquartered at Basrah.
5. Diyala Operational Command headquartered at Baqubah.
6. Karbala Operational Command headquartered at Karbala.
7. Ninawa Operational Command headquartered at Mosul.
8. Samarra Operational Command headquartered at Samarra.

The order of 360 BTRs would equate to 45 per battalion.  Based on the manning of BTR-3E1 type vehicles, that equates to just over 400 personnel.  With support and headquarters elements added in, that is a total of approximately 450 personnel.

Internal security is not the primary function of the Iraqi Army.  Internal security is the primary role of the Federal Police.  If the BTR-3E1 type vehicle order is back, and they are to be used for these joint battalions, then it explains why they are joint battalions.  The Federal Police do not have sufficient experienced trained personnel in using BTR-type armor.  The Iraqi Army has the 37/9 Light Mechanized Brigade, which is currently equipped with BTR-80s and has US Special Forces and Stryker training.  The Iraqi Army could be providing the vehicle crews while the Federal Police provide the SWAT-trained teams.

It is also possible that these formations could be the start of the formation of the 5th Federal Police Mechanized Division that is to be headquartered in Diwaniyah.  The eight Separate Lt Mechanized (SF) Battalions plus the 1st Federal Police Mechanized Brigade’s four battalions could be the planned start of building this internal security mechanized division.  If this is the case, expect the transfer the 1st Federal Police Mech Brigade to Diwaniyah after the other eight QRF battalions form.  There is a major gap in force coverage between Karbala and Basrah Operational Commands from an internal security perspective.  Basing at Diwaniyah would cover that gap.

In an October interview, Lieutenant General Ali Ghaidan Majeed [IGFC] noted that “while the original plan had called for a total of 17 mechanized battalions to be ready by the end of 2011, only 10 will now be available.”  These numbers reflect the planned new or converted formations to be built in 2010/2011, not the total Iraqi Army force.  The order for eight battalions of BTR-3E1s [336] was cancelled in 2008 and a replacement order for that requirement would be unlikely to start delivering until late 2011.  The order for nine battalions of M1126 Strykers [400] was changed to 271 [6 battalions] with an option for 129 more [3 battalions], with the total order of Strykers to be delivered by November 2011, if the option is executed.  This indicates that the general expects the first part of the replacement order for the cancelled BTR-3E1s to be delivered by the end of 2011.

Officer training continues with "383 new lieutenants starting the Infantry Officer Basic Course at the Kirkush Military Training Base here Oct. 4. This is the largest class ever to go through training in the Iraqi army."  Kirkush also graduated 24 Iraqi army captains from the first company commanders course at the infantry officer school at Kirkush Training Center on 21 October 2009. 

During October, there were several reports of the "14th Provisional Transport Regiment" indicating the 14 Motor Transport Regiment was being broken up.  This was addressed in a separate article concerning the upgrade of the 14th Division to mechanized.

Mortar training continues throughout the Iraqi Army.  One report from the Army Times indicates that 25 of MNSTC-I’s 20 planned 2009 mortar platoons [81mm battalion mortar batteries] are training.  The  27/7 Brigade performed a capabilities exercise on 20 October that included mortars.  The 1-15/4 Battalion appears to be reconfiguring from engineering route clearance to brigade field artillery starting with training on 120mm mortars.  The 33/8 Brigade was identified as the twelfth of MNSTC-I’s 10 planned 120mm batteries to be formed in 2009.

The first mention of mortar upgrades to 6th Division and the length/class size of one of the six Iraqi Army training sites for mortars was provided in this report:

"One hundred and six soldiers from the 6th and 8th Iraq Army divisions combined to conduct a live-fire exercise at the An Numaniyah Multi-Purpose Range Complex Oct. 22.  The live-fire exercise is the culminating event of an intensive 21-week course in 81mm mortar training. The 81mm mortar course is a premier training opportunity for the Iraqi security forces and has the personal attention of the Iraqi Minister of Defense. In recognition of the effectiveness of this course enrollment has tripled from 40 soldiers per cycle to 120 soldiers per cycle.” 

At least elements of the 53/14 Brigade are field-training in Nasariyah with the US 1-77 Armored Battalion, 4th Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division.  This is unusual since the Iraqi Army’s 14th Division has its own training center at Shaibah.  Either Shaibah is overloaded for training or does not have the type of training needed.  The 14th Division is planned to become mechanized and the US forces in Basrah are primarily the 17th Fires Brigade [field artillery], not mechanized/armored.

The second of four Saettia class Offshore Patrol Vessel was delivered to the Iraqi Navy.  The "Nasir" is expected to arrive in Iraq in December.   

The first of the T-6A trainers ordered by Iraq are to be delivered in 2009.  The Iraqi Air force received six new US-made aircraft in Kirkuk.  While one report indicated these aircraft were helicopters, that report is probably a mis-translation.  The remaining six Cessna 172s of the 18 ordered [option for 10 more] are probably what was delivered.  Cessna 172s are used for basic flight training at Kirkuk. 

A training job offer in Iraq on Huey IIs indicates that 2nd Squadron may be transferring to flight training duties in Tikrit.  Alternatively the Iraqi Air force may be getting more Huey II helicopters.  Currently the 2nd Squadron flies 16 Huey IIs in SAR/Medevac role out of Taji.

The beginnings of a national air traffic control system are being formed.  The latest part of the  system was for Kirkuk.   All of the sites for these systems have been joint civil-military airfields to date, indicating a dual-use role for these systems.

Iraqi Ministry of Interior  

The tenth Phase III Federal Police graduation occurred in October.  There were 798 graduates but, the two Federal Police Battalions were not identified.  Of particular note:  "The next class convenes Oct. 10 with 40 Kurdish trainees scheduled to participate in the training course."  This will be the first Kurds in Phase III Caribinarie training and is probably to train-the-trainers for Kurdish force integration.  That means the first Kurdish Federal Police Battalion will start Carabinarie training in December 2009 or February 2010.    

Route-clearance training continues throughout the Iraqi Security Forces.   The Mosul Federal Police Brigade started route-clearance training in October. 

During October, there was a first mention of a "5th Brigade of the Emergency Police" in Maysan.   This numbering indicates the Maysan Emergency Police is starting to be absorbed, retrained, and re-designated as part of the Federal Police.  There will probably more than one brigade in Maysan given their excessive Emergency Police battalion count. 

A new unit, the "Hawijah Emergency Services Unit” was mentioned  in Kirkuk Province indicating the Kirkuk Emergency Police is a minimum of four battalions strong. 

The  3-11 Battalion of the Department of Border Enforcement was reported in Maysan.  That is the second battalion of the 11th Brigade reported in Maysan vice operating in their normal Muthanna location.  There has been no recent reporting of 9th Brigade in Maysan.  The DBE may have swapped Brigades as part of the purge of Maysan Police Forces or the 11th Brigade may be augmenting Maysan.   

Planned Iraqi Arms Purchases?  [Probably obsolete reporting claiming to be new.]

There is a new unconfirmed report of planned Iraqi arms purchases.  The report reads like old data from pre-2007 purchasing plans but, could represent follow-up purchases.   

The article’s obvious errors and political hyperbole combined with lack of confirmation from any other source makes this data questionable.  [E.G. Iraq does not have 11 C-130A, Iraq has three C-130E and has ordered six C-130Js.  Likewise the numbers of other aircraft currently in the Iraqi Air Force are grossly inaccurate.]   

Anytime an article quotes an “informed source”, that is within the government, and “on condition of anonymity”, the data should be treated as dubious at best. 

The article states that these orders are to go through US FMS which means there should be new notices posted if these are new orders.   There are not.

• The mention of “transactions to buy Russian armoured personnel carriers and tanks,” could be old 2005-2009 speculation [fanned by Defense Solutions].  Or it could be references to the 77 Hungarian T72s donated and delivered in 2005, the 70 Slovakian T72s donated and pending delivery,  the 98 BTR80s delivered in 2006, the planned but cancelled 336 BTR-3E1 in 2008, and/or the over 300 Hellenic Army [Former DDR] BMP1s donated or bought and delivered in the 2005-2008 time-period.
• The “French and Russian vertical takeoff and landing aircraft” could be the existing orders for 24 French EC635 [option for 26 more] and 22 Russian Mi17v5 helicopters, previous orders/negotiations, or new orders.  The Iraqis are expected to order two more squadrons of Mi17 helicopters for the aircrew it has already trained.  The lack of mention of the existing two squadrons of Mi-17s tends to support old data.
• The “Italian war service boats” could be the already delivering four Patrol Ships.
• The "two F16 squadrons and one F18 squadron" could be old 2006-2007 speculation.
• The “440 American armoured personnel carriers” probably is the M1126 Stryker order for 271 APCs with an option for 129 more [400 total].  Or it could be a follow-on order planned.  The Stryker is planned to be the primary APC for the Iraqi Army.
• The “360 Russian armoured personnel carriers” could be an old report of the cancelled BTR-3E1 order or the already delivered Hellenic Army [former DDR] BMP1s. 
• The “60 Polish armoured personnel carriers” could be an old replacement vehicle order for DZIK3 light APCs used by Iraqi Army Military Police and EOD units.  Originally, 600 DZIK3s were ordered and those have been delivered since 2008.  This could be an old data point with a typo in the number [600 vice 60]. 
• The “35 Brazilian Cascavel armoured personnel carriers” could be the 35 EE-9 Cascavel 90mm-gun armed Scout Cars that were delivered to the Iraqi Army 4-37/9 Reconnaissance Battalion in January 2008.  Or it could be an additional order for a new battalion however; those vehicles are no longer produced.  Any new order would be for refitted used vehicles.

There is no mention of the more than 700 ILAV Badgers, 24 armed Bell 407 helicopters [option for 26 more], 140 M1A1 tanks [option for 140 more], or over 8,500 uparmored HMMWVs in this reporting.  The data points fit for pre-2007 speculation and plans.  Barring legitimate confirmation that these are new orders and plans [E.G. new FMS notices], this report will be disregarded as obsolete information in the Iraqi Security Force Order of Battle.