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... http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/201 ... story.htmlBAGHDAD — Frustrated with the pace of U.S. jet and attack helicopter deliveries,
the Iraqi government has resorted to negotiating the return of decades-old planes from Iran as it desperately tries to cobble together air power to turn the tide against al-Qaeda-inspired insurgents.
Iran has been “receptive” to the demands and is working on refurbishing an unspecified number of jets, Ammar Toma, a member of the Iraqi parliament’s defense and security committee said Friday.
Government and military officials and two other lawmakers confirmed the negotiations.
The planes are among more than 100 Iraqi jets, including Soviet-made Sukhoi bombers and MiGs, which were flown to Iran by fleeing Iraqi pilots during the 1991 Gulf War.
If delivered, they would join secondhand fighters from Belarus and Russia to create a ragtag air force that Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki is hoping can help reverse insurgent gains.
With its first U.S.-supplied F-16s not expected to arrive until fall, the planes from Iran and secondhand jets from Russia and Belarus are an unsatisfactory stopgap, officials say.
“These planes are over 20 years old,” said a senior military officer, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because he is not authorized to discuss the negotiations.
He voiced concerns that using the outdated technology could mean large numbers of civilian casualties.
“Even when you get them, you still need training for pilots.
They aren’t just taxis that one can just jump into and drive,” he added,
pointing out that many of the Iraqis who were trained to fly them are now too old.
Iran impounded about 130 planes after fleeing Iraqi pilots sought sanctuary in the country during the 1991 Gulf War, Iraqi officials say.
The aircraft include 24 Soviet-made Su-24s, 24 French Mirage F1s and 12 MiG-23s.
Some of the planes have been junked, but the Su-24s are serviceable,
and some have been absorbed into the Iranian air force and kept in working order,
said analyst Michael Knights of the Washington Institute.
“It could be a sneaky way of using Iranian air power,” he said.
“They could keep Iranian pilots flying that stuff — all you are changing is what’s painted on the wings, really.”
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