Posted on 12/29/2007 12:38:59 PM PST by SandRat
BAGHDAD — The Iraqi Air Force received a new, technologically advanced aircraft in a ceremony here Dec. 28. The Beechcraft KingAir 350 was delivered to the Iraqi Air Force through Foreign Military Sales, a process that allows the Iraqi government to purchase military equipment and supplies from other countries, including the United States, with its own money.
Additional KingAir aircraft, which are fitted with intelligence gathering sensors, will be delivered throughout next year, said U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Bob Allardice, Coalition Air Force Transition Team commander.
“These aircraft will fly critical training, airlift and surveillance support for the government of Iraq to fight the counterinsurgency,” he said.
Lt. Gen. Kamal, head of the Iraqi Air Force, echoed Allardice’s comments about the flexibility of the Iraqi Air Force’s newest asset. “This airplane is very good, and it can fly many missions,” said the Iraqi general.
Although the KingAir delivered Dec. 28 is not fitted with sensors, it will be used for light transport missions, flying cargo and distinguished visitors, and as a training aircraft for Iraqi officers who will be piloting the airplanes.
“This aircraft arrived about four months in front of other aircraft so that we can train the pilots up,” said Allardice. “When the other planes arrive, the pilots will be ready to go right into the fight,” he added.
Pilot training will begin Dec. 29 and will take place at Kirkuk Air Base, Iraq. The school will last approximately three and a half months for each class of pilots.
FR WAR NEWS!
Starting them back slow and right.
By end-2008 they plan to have 24 ISR equipped and 24 for light transport/training.
This is not an ‘ash and trash’ hauler.
The military designation varies from service to service, but most of these are called C-12 Huron or UC-12. These can be used for personnel transport. The Army also operates the RC-12 Guardrail series of aircraft for military intelligence missions. The USAF calls them a C-12, and uses the A/C for pax travel.
The article indicates an intel finction. The Guardrail is:
The Guardrail Common Sensor [GR/CS] is a Corps Level Airborne Signal Intelligence (SIGINT) collection/location system that integrates the Improved GUARDRAIL V (IGR V), Communication High Accuracy Airborne Location System (CHAALS), and the Advanced QUICKLOOK (AQL) into the same SIGINT platform — the RC-12K/N/P/Q aircraft. Key features include integrated COMINT and ELINT reporting, enhanced signal classification and recognition, fast Direction Finding (DF), precision emitter location, and an advanced integrated aircraft cockpit. Preplanned product improvements include frequency extension, computer assisted on-line sensor management, upgraded data links and the capability to exploit a wider range of signals.
See http://www.fas.org/irp/program/collect/guardrail.htm for the full scoop and pics.
I guess we’re gonna work ‘em back up to the MiG-25 real slowly...
I’m happy to see they are being trained and equipped, but the King Air wouldn’t have been my choice for the intended mission.
Thank you.
Maybe the F-5E Tigershark first.
That would be the F-20. Didn’t get bought by the Air Force.
They are practically American already with that attitude.
Exactly. Let them start back on a simple, very reliable aircraft like the KA350/C-12, and they can get some good use out of the Guardrail package, if that’s what they got.
}:-)4
Pictures would help to know what type of aircraft this is:)
Small to midsize plane used in pipeline service flights.
Efficient turboprop for short hops. A dozen oil execs as passengers plus their briefcases.
That makes sense.
Must be a dozen of that size plane flying out of Fairbanks up to Prudhoe and other stations north every day. They aren’t jets, but they haul pretty good.
Strange choice for a military aircraft.
C-21 painted Gray used lot.
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