Iraqi Air Force has flown 20 Raytheon-built T-6A Texan II turboprop trainer aircraft in 12 flyovers and conducted aerial demonstrations during the annual Iraqi Army Day Parade at the International Zone in Baghdad.

Capt Martin Lopez, a T-6A Texan II instructor pilot assigned to the 52nd Expeditionary Flying Training Squadron at Coalition Operating Base Speicher in Tikrit, Iraq, said the demonstrations showcased the increasing capabilities of the IAF and its movement toward complete air sovereignty.

The Iraqi Air Force uses the T-6 primarily for pilot training, and it is playing a significant role in helping re-establish Iraq’s air fleet.

Iraqi and US pilots fly together in training aircraft like the T-6A, featured in the aerial demonstration during the Iraqi Army Day celebration, Lopez added.