Iraqi Air Force expands operations

  • Published
  • By Multi-National Security Transition Command - Iraq
  • Public Affairs
FORWARD OPERATING BASE DELTA, Iraq --  The Iraqi Air Force (IqAF) is actively expanding its operations here. Last summer, a small advance team from the U.S. Air Force arrived at the FOB to prepare the areas under Iraqi control for future operations.

A team of air advisors from the Coalition Air Force Training Team (CAFTT), part of Multi-National Security Transition Command-Iraq, helped IqAF members build a relationship with their Army hosts by arranging meetings with FOB senior leadership and coordinating agreements for access to the base and basic communication issues.

IqAF Brig. Gen. Akeel, the Al-Kut commanding general, is leading the effort to rebuild the infrastructure inside the Iraqi compound as operations and support personnel settle into living areas.

Maj. Ryan Campbell was the CAFTT Detachment Commander here when the expansion started. He says CAFTT was instrumental in acquiring temporary living quarters and access to water while the Iraqis set-up their supply system.

"We had to be hands-on in the beginning since they were unfamiliar with living and working while completely integrated with Coalition forces," said Campbell.

Campbell has since redeployed on another CAFTT mission. The current commander of the detachment is Capt. Ciro de la Vega.

"Things are moving along at a steady pace. The Iraqi leadership here is engaged and they want to turn this into a premier Air Force base," said de la Vega.

Here, IqAF members will be living and working right alongside their Coalition counterparts without being separated on their own section of the base.

As a renovation of the dormitories approaches, CAFTT is advising Iraqi leadership on the plans for setting-up a utilities system designed to eventually provide water, power and septic services to all Iraqi-controlled buildings on the FOB. "Two generators were obtained for their use, but the Iraqis had to transport them to Al-Kut. They did this with their own C-130s," added de la Vega.

Future mission plans include stationing Iraqi Air Force Mi-17 helicopters here, as well as an Intelligence-Surveillance-Reconnaissance ground station for downloading data from ISR aircraft. The IqAF is in the process of procuring fuel trucks to support aircraft and generator requirements.

FOB Delta, once known as Abu Obaida Air Base during the Saddam regime, is located in Wasit province near the city of Kut. FOB Delta is currently the deployed home of a U.S. Army fires brigade, as well as Coalition forces from Romania and El Salvador.