Iraq’s Perennial Third World Air Power Problem

BusinessAerospace & DefenseIraq’s Perennial Third World Air Power ProblemByPaul Iddon,Senior Contributor.Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. Paul Iddon is a freelance journalist focused on Middle East affairs.Follow AuthorMay 28, 2026, 11:30am EDT--:-- / --:--This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.Iraqi air force F-16 fighter aircraft fly over during an airshow above Baghdad on October 3, 2025, for the country's 93rd national day, marking the country's independence and the end of the British Mandate. (Photo by MURTADHA RIDHA/AFP via Getty Images)AFP via Getty ImagesIraq is taking tangible steps to enhance and upgrade its air defense. It has ordered South Korea’s medium-range surface-to-air Cheongung-II missile systems and Turkey’s short-range Korkut anti-aircraft gun. Furthermore, it’s holding simultaneous negotiations with France and Pakistan over acquisitions of Dassault Rafale and JF-17 Thunder multirole fighter jets. Even with such high-end systems in its inventory, Iraq may still face the same problem that plagued it decades ago: namely, its inability to adequately maintain and field such sophisticated equipment independently. Whether it ultimately acquires the Rafale or JF-17, or approximately a dozen of both, their arrival will mark Iraq’s most advanced aircraft acquisition since taking delivery of Lockheed Martin F-16C/D Block 52 Vipers in the mid-2010s. However, without continuous hands-on support from foreign contractors and technicians, these French and Sino-Pakistani jets could become severely underutilized. Iraq’s F-16 fleet has faced similar issues over the past decades. Their readiness depends heavily on contractor support from their manufacturer, Lockheed Martin. Additionally, their overall air defense capabilities have been greatly constrained by their lack of AIM-120 air-to-air missiles, leaving them with inferior, much less reliable,...