This November marks the second anniversary of the Aero Vodochody L-159 Advanced Light Combat Aircraft’s (ALCA’s) arrival in Iraq. Since then, the Czech-built fighter has proven its qualities to the Iraqi Air Force (IQAF) during a time of great need, as Alan Warnes discovers.
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“The ALCA has played a major role in defeating Daesh [so-called Islamic State, IS]”, the IQAF chief, General Anwar Hamad Amin, told AFM at his Baghdad headquarters in late September. “They flew as part of our combat force, alongside Cessna 208 Caravans, Su-25s and F-16s, participating in combat missions all over the north and northwest of Iraq, to help liberate places like Fallujah, Ramadi, Rawa, Tal Afar, Nawija and Mosul.”