Iraq receives first L-159 jets from the Czech Republic
The Iraqi Air Force (IqAF) has received the first of its Aero Vodochody L-159 light attack and training aircraft from the Czech Republic, the Iraqi defence minister confirmed on 5 November. The arrival of the first two of 15 L-159A/B jets into Balad Air Base was tweeted by Khalid Al-Obeidi the day after an image of […]Gareth Jennings reports for IHS Jane's 360:
The Iraqi Air Force (IqAF) has received the first of its Aero Vodochody L-159 light attack and training aircraft from the Czech Republic, the Iraqi defence minister confirmed on 5 November. The arrival of the first two of 15 L-159A/B jets into Balad Air Base was tweeted by Khalid Al-Obeidi the day after an image of aircraft '5903' transiting through Plovdiv in Bulgaria enroute to Iraq was obtained by IHS Jane's (the other aircraft was '5094').
The Czech Ministry of Defence (MoD) cleared the sale of 11 surplus and four active-duty L-159s to Iraq earlier in the year. In all, the IqAF is to receive 10 single-seat L-159A Advanced Light Combat Aircraft (ALCA) light strike platforms, two twin-seat L-159B Albatros II trainers, and three spare parts airframes by the time deliveries are complete in 2017.
