109th Squadron (Iraq)
Military unit
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The 109th Attack Squadron is an Iraqi Air Force ground-attack squadron. It operates the Sukhoi Su-25 from Al Rasheed Air Base.[2]
| 109th Attack Squadron | |
|---|---|
Su-25 of the 109th Squadron in 2022 | |
| Active | 1978-2003[1] 2015-current |
| Country | Iraq |
| Branch | Iraqi Air Force |
| Role | Ground attack |
| Base | Al Rasheed Air Base |
| Insignia | |
| Fin Flash |  |
| Aircraft flown | |
| Attack | Sukhoi Su-25 |
Twentieth century
No. 109 Squadron was established in 1978.[3] It was equipped with Sukhoi Su-22s,[4] and was based at Wahda AB near Basra.[3] No. 109 Squadron's pilots became the first in Iraq to receive dedicated training for anti-ship attacks.[5]
The squadron participated in the three waves of Iraqi air strikes on Iran on the first day of the Iran-Iraq War. It did not lose any aircraft on that day.[6]
Twenty-first century
On 2 April 2015, the Iraqi Ministry of Defence confirmed that the 109th Attack Squadron had been formed at Rasheed Air Base to operate the Sukhoi Su-25s the country received from Russia and Iran. The first of these aircraft had arrived in Iraq on 28 June 2014.[7]