CNN - Inspecting Iraq - Iraq Military Jane's Defense analysis

Although Iraq resumed operational and training flights with its fixed- wing aircraft in April 1992, in violation of the cease-fire terms, it has been forced by UN sanctions and financial restrictions to impose a strict limitation on flying times to about 100 sorties per day, in order to preserve its remaining military aircraft resources. Apart from spares and equipment replacement problems, believed to have been eased somewhat by clandestine supplies from Libya, via Jordan, current UN sanctions have prevented access to the maintenance and overhaul facilities formerly utilised by Iraq in the former Soviet Union and Eastern Europe. A number of Iraqi Air Force MiG-21, MiG-23, Su-22, Mi-8 and Mi-24 aircraft are reported to have been impounded there pending removal of the international embargoes.

Pentagon estimates of Iraqi air force strength in April 1992 comprised about 350 aircraft with operational capabilities, including MiG-21 (some of which were Chinese-supplied F-7 versions), MiG-23, MiG-25, MiG-29, Mirage F1 and Sukhoi Su-22 aircraft, although only about 150 were thought to be airworthy at that time. These were said to comprise some 15 MiG-29, 30 Mirage F1 and 50 MiG-23 multi-role fighters, as well as 20 Su-25 and 30 Su-20/-22 ground-attack aircraft. Buyers were being sought by the Russian government and the MiG OKB in late 1991, for about 70 MiG-29 aircraft built to follow an earlier Iraqi government order for 26, but embargoed by the UN after Iraq's invasion of Kuwait.

There has been no recent mention of Iraq's longer-range air strike element, at one time comprising about 10 Tupolev Tu-22 supersonic bombers and six older Tu-16 bombers, armed with AS-4 and AS-6 missiles. These were supplemented from 1987, by four Xian-built B-6D from China carrying C601 heavy anti-ship missiles, which were used in Gulf operations in 1988. At least three Iraqi Air Force Tu-16 aircraft were destroyed on the ground by Allied air action against Al Taqaddum air base on 17 January 1991, however, and few of the surviving long-range strike aircraft remain airworthy.

By mid-1993, it was estimated that the air force has built its remaining operational strength to about 50 per cent readiness. Some aircraft remain embargoed at service centres around the world, including five L- 39ZO in the Czech Republic, 12 MiG-21 in Germany and Hungary and 8 MiG- 23 aircraft at Belgrade-Zemun in Yugoslavia, the latter held since 1992, but possibly returned in 1994. Iran is estimated to be holding 15 Il-76, 40 Su-20/22, 24 Mirage F1, seven MiG-23, seven MiG-25 and four MiG-29 combat aircraft.