SA 342M Gazelle (Iraqi Army Aviation Command)
قيادة طيران الجيش العراقي

SA 342M Gazelle
Operator: No. 21 Squadron
Location: Al Sahra Air Base (Iraq)
Timeframe: 1996
Loadout: Scout
- 4x HOT

Personal interest:
This model represents an Iraqi SA 342M Gazelle used by the Iraqi Army Aviation Command during my service in Operation Southern Watch. The Iraqis primary used helicopters to violate the no-fly zones because it was relatively easy to land them before interceptors could arrive to destroy them in flight. Helicopters were also particularly effective against the anti-regime Kurdish and Shi'ite militias targeted by Iraqi forces.