IQAF pilots start Super Mushshak training
In September 2021 a contract was signed between Pakistan and the al-Quwwat al-Jawwiya al-Iraqiya (IQAF, Iraqi Air Force) to supply twelve Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC) MFI-395 Super Mushshak basic training aircraft.
A recent post on social media by the Iraqi Ministry of Defence (MoD) revealed that the first installment of instructors was sent to Pakistan as a delegation of the Iraqi Air Force Air Training Directorate.
The procurement of the Super Mushshak came as a surprise to many. The Iraqi Air Force already operates a relatively young fleet of training aircraft that fall in the same class, consisting of twelve Cessna 172S Skyhawks (delivered in 2007), fifteen Beech/Textron T-6A Texan II (delivered in 2009), twenty UTVA 95 Lasta (delivered in 2010), all of which are suffering from a very low serviceability due to the lack of spares, know-how and funds. Many companies and contractors that supported the Iraqi Air Force have left the country when ISIS was gaining ground. The IQAF never recovered fully.
The order for Super Mushshaks dates back to 2014, but was never officially signed. Negotiations taking place between August 2021 and September 2021 let to a formal contract and the USD 33,3 million deal for twelve aircraft was formally documented in the 2021 financial reporting of PAC.
It is not known when the first Super Mushaks will be delivered.
According to the Scramble Magazine Aerial Order of Battle for Iraq, the Flying Training Wing (FTW) consists of:
Photo (just illustrative) by Vyacheslav Firsov (via JetPhotos.com)