AIRFIELD CONSTRUCTION AND UPGRADING, IRAQ

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: NGA Records (Formerly NIMA)
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP84T00171R000100280001-1
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 11
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2016
• Document Release Date: January 25, 2012
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: June 1, 1983
• Content Type: REPORT

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AIRFIELD CONSTRUCTION AND UPGRADING,
IRAQ (S)
INTRODUCTION
1. Shortly before the September 1980 outbreak of the Iran-Iraq war, Iraq began major airfield
construction and renovation efforts. From June 1980 through February 1983, 21 new airfields had been
identified and 19 operational airfields were being upgraded (Figure 1). These new and upgraded airfields
increase the deployment flexibility of the Iraqi Air Force (IAF), reduce its vulnerability from attack, and
furnish increased facilities for future expansion of aircraft and personnel. This report contains four
photographs and two tables. (S/WN)
DESCRIPTION
2. Thirteen of the 21 new airfields are in the eastern half of the country. When complete, they will
enhance the IAF's ability to defend eastern military installations and oilfields and provide a base for
offensive sorties into Iran. Four other airfields were under construction in the southern part of the
country, near the Saudi Arabian border; the remaining four were being constructed in the western part,
near the Syrian border. IAF units, when stationed at the new western airfields, will be relatively safe from
Iranian air attacks and will have improved capability to react to possible threats from Syria. (S/WN)
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3. Of the 21 new airfields, eight will have runways in excess of 2,440 meters, and 13 will have
runways longer than 3,050 meters (Table 1). Construction of military/fighter aircraft dispersal areas with
high-speed approaches and probable aircraft bunkers was observed at at least 18 of the new airfields.
Shayka Mazhar Airfield, in eastern Iraq (Figure 2), is typical of the new installations: the runway and
taxiway were in the early-to-midstage of construction while the parking apron, aircraft dispersal areas,
and aircraft bunkers were in the early-to-late stages of construction. A newly operational airfield, Balad
Southeast Airfield (Figure 3), also in eastern Iraq, is another example: one runway and taxiway appeared
to be complete, while a second runway and taxiway, aircraft dispersal areas, aircraft bunkers, and other
infrastructure were in the late stages of construction. (S/WN)
(Continued p. 9)
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Table 1. New Airfields Under Construction
(This table is keyed to Figure 1)
Item Airfield/Location/BE No. Latest Construction Status Remarks
Coverage
1 Bashur Airfield
36-32-1ON 044-20-OOE
2 Tall Afar Airfield
36-17-21 N 042-23-25E
3 Sahl Sinjar Airfield
35-51-25N 042-08-20E
4 Tall Ashtah Airfield
New
35-08-25N 044-08-25E
5 Tuz Khurmatu New
WNW Airfield
34-55-35N 044-29-42E
6 Samarra Airfield West
34-18-30N 043-16-10E
7 Samarra East Airfield
34-09-OON 044-16-30E
8 Balad Southeast
Airfield
33-55-59N 044-21-26E
9 H-1 New Airfield
33-49-05N 041-26-45E
10 Al Asad Airfield
33-47-35N 042-26-30E
11 Shayka Mazhar Airfield
32-56-OON 044-40-OOE
12 An Numaniyah New
Airfield
32-30-31N 045-19-55E
Early stages One 2,600-meter NW/SE runway, one
parking apron, and two taxiways ucon
Early to midstage One 3,000-meter NW/SE runway, two air-
craft dispersal areas with eight high-
speed approaches, 10 hardstands/aircraft
bunkers, one parallel taxiway, one end-
connecting and two crossover links, two
taxiways, and one parking apron ucon
Early stages One 3,445-meter NW/SE runway, two air-
craft dispersal areas with eight high-
speed approaches and 11 handstands/
aircraft bunkers, two taxiways, two
crossover links, and two parking aprons
ucon
Early stages One 2,660-meter NW/SE runway, one air-
craft dispersal area with two high-speed
approaches, and one taxiway ucon
Early stages One 3,300-meter NW/SE runway, one air-
craft dispersal area with four high-speed
approaches and six hardstands/aircraft
bunkers, one taxiway, and one crossover
link ucon
Late stages One 3,003-meter WNW/ESE runway
ucon; one natural-surfaced end-
connecting link and three natural-
surfaced crossover links appear to
be complete
Early stages One 3,000-meter NW/SE runway, two
dispersal areas with eight high-speed
approaches and 10 hardstands/aircraft
bunkers, one taxiway, and one parking
apron ucon
Mid-to-late stages One 3,400-meter NW/SE runway ap-
peared to be operational; one 3,400-
meter NW/SE runway, two taxiways,
four aircraft dispersal areas with 19
high-speed approaches and 36 aircraft
bunkers, three crossover links, three
parking aprons, and a large support area
ucon
Midstage One 3,290-meter NW/SE runway,
one taxiway, two aircraft dispersal
areas with eight high-speed approaches
and 11 hardstands/aircraft bunkers,
two end-connecting and two crossover
links, and one parking apron ucon
Early stages One 4,040-meter E/W runway, one 4,000-
meter E/W runway, six aircraft dispersal
areas with 39 aircraft bunkers, one taxi-
way, two end-connecting and three
crossover links, and three parking aprons
ucon
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One 4,000-meter NW/SE runway, two
aircraft dispersal areas with 11 high-
speed approaches and 13 aircraft bunk-
ers, one taxiway, and one parking apron
ucon
One 3,070-meter NW/SE runway, two
aircraft dispersal areas with eight high-
speed approaches and 10 hardstands/
aircraft bunkers, one taxiway, one cross-
over link, and one parking apron ucon
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Table 1. (cont'd)
Item Airfield/Location/BE No. Latest Construction Status Remarks
Coverage
13 Mudaysis Airfield
One 3,066-meter NW/SE runway, two
32-24-50N 041-57-50E
aircraft dispersal areas with eight high-
speed approaches and 10 aircraft bunk-
ers, one taxiway, two end-connecting and
two crossover links, and one parking
apron ucon
14 Kut Al Hayy Airfield
One 3,010-meter NW/SE runway, two air-
East
craft dispersal areas with eight high-
32-07-16N 046-23-01 E
speed approaches and 12 hardstands/air-
craft bunkers, one taxiway, two end-
connecting links, two crossover links,
and one parking apron ucon
15 Qalat Sikar Airfield
One 3,414-meter NW/SE runway, two air-
31-50-05N 046-18-13E
craft dispersal areas with eight high-
speed approaches and 12 hardstands/
aircraft bunkers, one taxiway, two end-
connecting and two crossover links,
and one parking apron ucon
16 Qalat Salih Airfield
Early to midstage One 3,400-meter NW/SE runway, two
31-27-32N 047-17-13E
dispersal areas with eight high-speed
approaches and 12 hardstands/aircraft
bunkers, one taxiway, and one parking
apron ucon
17 Wadi Al Khirr Airfield
Early stages One 3,100-meter NW/SE runway, two air-
New
craft dispersal areas with four high-speed
31-24-46N 043-10-55E
approaches and 10 hardstands/aircraft
bunkers, one taxiway, two crossover
links, and one parking apron ucon
18 Ghalaysan Airfield New
Early stages One 3,100-meter NW/SE runway, two air-
30-54-36N 043-40-17E
craft dispersal areas with six high-speed
approaches and seven hardstands/aircraft
bunkers, one taxiway, two crossover
links, and one parking apron ucon
19 As Salman Airfield
Early stages One 2,900-meter NW/SE runway, two air-
North
craft dispersal areas with eight high-
30-38-37N 044-33-51 E
speed approaches and 10 hardstands/
aircraft bunkers, one taxiway, two cross-
over links, and one parking apron ucon
20 Al Basrah West
Early stages One 3,100-meter NW/SE runway, one taxi-
Airfield
way, two end-connecting links, and one
30-32-45N 047-40-11E
parking apron ucon
21 Ash Shamiyah Airfield
One 3,000-meter NW/SE runway, two air-
30-21-01N 047-10-22E
craft dispersal areas with eight high-
speed approaches and 11 hardstands/
aircraft bunkers, two crossover links, and
one parking apron ucon
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IA R-0027/83
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Table 2. Upgraded Airfields
(This table is keyed to Figure 1)
Item Airfield/Location/BE No. Latest Functional Status Improvements
Coverage
1 Qayyarah Airfield West
Operational airfield Original NNW/SSE runway con-
35-46-01 N 043-07-20E
nected to the new operational 3,716-
meter NNW/SSE runway by two new
end-connecting and one new crossover
links; three new aircraft dispersal areas
with two high-speed approaches, 36
hardened aircraft shelters, and two new
parking aprons were complete
2 K-1 Airfield
Operational heliport NE/SW runway obstructed by
35-30-45N 044-17-07E
construction of four parking aprons
and three large hangars; the 1,575-
meter NNW/SSE runway had been
resurfaced
3 Kirkuk Airfield
Operational airfield One operational NW/SE runway
35-28-10N 044-21-08E
being extended to 3,208 meters and
resurfaced; one new 3,101-meter paral-
lel runway in early stages of construction;
two new aircraft dispersal areas with
four high-speed approaches, 13
hardstands/aircraft bunkers, and one
new end-connecting link ucon
4 Al Fathah Airfield
Operational airfield One NNW/SSE runway was operational
35-08-18N 043-43-10E
while one new 3,404-meter paral-
lel runway and one new parallel runway/
taxiway in early stages of construction;
two new aircraft dispersal areas with
eight high-speed approaches, 10
hardstands/aircraft bunkers, two new
crossover links, and one new parking
apron ucon
5 K-2 Airfield
Operational airfield Operational NW/SE runway extended
34-54-55N 043-23-41 E
to 3,505 meters; one new end-
connecting link, one new parking apron,
and one new parking apron with a large
hangar were complete
6 Al Sahra Airfield
Operational airfield Two new aircraft dispersal areas with
34-40-35N 043-32-40E
eight high-speed approaches, 12
hardened aircraft shelters, one new
taxiway, and one new parking apron
were complete
7 Al Tai Heliport
Operational heliport Operational NNW/SSE runway ex-
33-31-33N 044-15-49E
tended to 1,752 meters. Three new large
hangars and one new parking apron
were complete
8 H-2 Airfield
Operational airfield One 3,905-meter WNW/ESE runway
33-21-39N 040-35-20E
and parallel taxiway/runway and
six new aircraft dispersal areas with
9 Al Taqaddum Airfield
33-20-27N 043-35-38E
10 Baghdad/Muthenna
Airfield
33-19-48N 044-21-57E
11 Rasheed Airfield
33-16-50N 044-29-38E
13 high-speed approaches and four
hardstands/aircraft bunkers in late
stages of construction; two new large
hangars and one new parking apron
were complete
Operational airfield One operational NW/SE runway ex-
tended to 3,725 meters; one new 3,424-
meter runway/taxiway and one new air-
craft dispersal area with three high-speed
approaches in early-to-mid stages of
construction
Operational airfield NW/SE runway extended to 2,985
meters; one new parking apron, one
possible VIP terminal, and two new large
hangars were complete
Operational airfield One possible VIP terminal, one parallel
taxiway, three new parking aprons, and
one new large hangar were complete;
one small hangar in midstage of con-
struction
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Table 2. (cont'd)
Item Airfield/Location/BE No. Latest Functional Status Improvements
Coverage
12 Baghdad Airfield
International
(Saddam Inter-
national Airfield)
33-15-24N 044-13-33E
13 H-3 Airfield
Northwest
33-04-50N 039-36-25E
14 H-3 Airfield
32-56-16N 039-44-44E
15 H-3 Southwest Airfield
32-45-20N 039-36-OOE
16 Ubaydah Bin Al
Jarrah Airfield
32-29-05N 045-45-17E
17 Al Amarah Airfield
New
31-49-12N 047-05-03E
18 Tallil Airfield
30-55-55N 046-05-20E
19 Jalibah Southeast
Airfield
30-32-52N 046-36-28E
Operational airfield One new 4,001 -meter NNW/SSE runway
and parallel taxiway/runway with two
end-connecting links and two crossover
links in the midstage of construction;
one new terminal building, two new air-
craft dispersal areas with eight air-
craft bunkers, and one medium hangar
in late stages of construction
Operational airfield NE/SW runway extended to 3,012
meters; taxiway and crossover
link being resurfaced: two new air-
dispersal areas with three high-
craft
speed approaches, four hardstands/
aircraft bunkers, and two hardstands
in midstage of construction
Operational airfield Old NW/SE runway extended to
3,105 meters; new 3,654-meter
NW/SE runway and new N/S taxiway
complete: two new aircraft dis-
persal areas with seven high-speed
approaches, seven hardstands/
aircraft bunkers, and two new hard-
stands were complete; five aircraft
bunkers and one parking apron
in late stages of construction
Taxiway and crossover link
being resurfaced; two new aircraft
dispersal areas with three high-speed
approaches and four hardstands/aircraft
bunkers in early stages of construction
New aircraft dispersal areas with nine
high-speed approaches and 24 aircraft
bunkers in the final stages of con-
struction; one new large hangar and one
new parking apron recently completed
Parallel 3,014-meter NW/SE taxi-
way being resurfaced/converted
to a runway; two new aircraft dispersal
areas with eight high-speed approaches,
10 hardstands/aircraft bunkers, and one
parking apron in early stages of con-
struction
Operational airfield Old NW/SE runway being extended
to 3,666 meters; new 3,000-meter
parallel runway in late stages
of construction; four new aircraft
dispersal areas with 18 high-speed
approaches and 28 aircraft bunkers, two
end-connecting and one crossover links,
one taxiway, and one parking apron
in late stages of construction
Operational airfield Old NW/SE runway being extended
to 3,443 meters; a new 3,103-
meter parallel runway and two air-
craft dispersal areas with eight high-
speed approaches and 12 aircraft bunkers
in late stages of construction; a new
3,344-meter parallel runway/taxi-
way and two aircraft dispersal areas
with 11 high-speed approaches and 12
aircraft bunkers in early-to-midstage
of construction; two end-connecting
and two crossover links, and two
parking aprons also ucon
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4. Of the 19 upgraded airfields, six are in the northern part of the country, six in central Iraq, four in
the west near the Jordanian and Syrian borders, and three in the southeast (Table 2). Fourteen were being
upgraded with aircraft dispersal areas and/or aircraft bunkers. At nine of the airfields, runways were
being extended, while at 10 others new runways were under construction. For example, at H-3 Airfield
Northwest (Figure 4), near the Jordanian border, typical airfield upgrading included extending the run-
way, resurfacing the taxiway, and constructing hardstands/aircraft bunkers at aircraft dispersal areas.
(S/W N)
All applicable satellite imagery acquired from
of this report. (S/WN)
Comments and queries regarding this report are wel
World Forces Division, Imagery Exploitation Group, NPIC,
was used in the preparation
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