Iraq deploys CH-5 UAVs to Ain al-Asad

One of the three CH-5s shown at Ain al-Asad Air Base. (Iraqi Ministry of Defence)

Iraqi Army Aviation Command (IAAC) has moved CH-5 long-range unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to Ain al-Asad Air Base in the western governorate of Al-Anbar, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) revealed when it announced that the UAVs had been inspected by Armed Forces Chief of Staff General Abdulamir Rashid Yarallah.

It released a video on 9 February showing Gen Yarallah landing at the base in one of the IAAC's new H225M Caracal helicopters and inspecting three CH-5s, two of which were inside one of the temporary aircraft shelters that were until recently used by the US-led coalition on the northern side of the runways. The third CH-5 was armed with missiles on four pylons.

Gen Yarallah was also shown a ground-control station with three seats for mission plan, flight control, and payload control.

No other aircraft were seen in this part of the base. When the MoD announced on 18 January that the US-led coalition had withdrawn from Ain al-Asad, officers said different areas had been assigned to IAAC, the air force, and special forces.

IAAC received its first CH-5 sometime before 24 April 2024, when one was displayed with weapons during the ceremony marking the 93rd anniversary of the Iraqi Air Force.

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Iraq takes full control of Ain al-Asad Air Base