9 February 2016. Iraq will gain a total of 15 Aero L-159s and Aero Vodochody will make 12 aircraft operable for the Iraqi Air Force. Two other planes will be used for the reconstruction of two aircraft into two-seaters, one will be used for spare parts. For nearly three years, United Kingdom has blocked the sale of L-159s because they contain British radar warning receiver. However, Prime Minister David Cameron agreed to overturn the ban in February 2016 and the sale to Iraq is proceeding. In December 2014, during a meeting between leaders of Iraq and the United Arab Emirates, the UAE offered up to 10 Mirage 2000 fighters to the Iraqi Air Force. The aircraft could have been delivered by March 2015. On 6–7, April 2019, IqAF received six new F-16s. According to Brigadier Yahya Rasool, Ministry of Defence (Iraq)'s Security Media Cell spokesperson, the latest delivery brought Iraq's F-16 fleet to 27. Among operating squadrons of the air force today are: 3rd Squadron; 9th Squadron (F-16s); 23rd Squadron; 70th Squadron; 87th Squadron (B 350ER); 109th Squadron (Sukhoi Su-25); 115th Squadron (L-159); and possibly 2nd Squadron. Air Force commanders 1930–1931, Natiq Muhammad Khalil at-Tayi 1931–1932, Mohammed Ali Jawad 1932–1933, Ibrahim Hamdi ar-Rawi 1933–1936, Ismail Ibrahim Namaq 1936 (January–June), Shakir Abdul Wahhab 1936 (June–November), Khalid al-Zahrawi 1936, Mohammed Ali Jawad 1937 (12-14 August), Shakir al-Wadi 1937 (August–October), Salah ad-Din as-Sabagh 1937–1938, Akram Mushtak 1938–1941, Mahmud Salman 1941–1954, Brigadier Sami Fattah al-Musli 1954 (May–October), Munir Abbass Hilmi Moheidin 1954-14 July 1958, Abdul Kadhim Abaddi 1958–1963, Jalal Jaffar Al-Awqati 1963 (February–March), Arif Abd ar-Razzaq 1963 (March–December), Hardan al-Tikriti 1963–1965, Arif Abd ar-Razzaq 1965–1966, Munir Abbass Hilmi Moheidin 1966–1968, Jassam Mohammed Al-Saher 1968–1970, Hardan al-Tikriti 1970–1973, Hiyawi Hamash at-Tikriti 1973–1976, Nimma Abdullah ad-Dulaimi 1976–1978, Hamid Sha'ban at-Tikriti 1978–1984, Mohammed Jassim Hanish al-Jaboury 1985, Air Marshal Hamid Sha'aban 1985–1994, Muzahim Sa'b Hassan al-Tikriti 1994–2003, Hamid Raja Shalah 2005–2008 Kamal Barzanji 2008–2019 Anwar Hamad Amin 2019–current Shihab Jahid Ali Aircraft Current inventory Squadrons Rank insignia Iraq Air Force Officer rank insignia in use today are shown in the following table: See also List of Iraqi Air Force aircraft squadrons Abed Hamed Mowhoush References Further reading "Iran-Iraq War in the Air, 1980–1988", by T. Cooper & F. Bishop, Schiffer 2003, "Iraqi Fighters, 1953–2003: Camouflage & Markings", by Brig. Gen. A. Sadik & T. Cooper, Harpia Publishing, 2008, "Hawker Hunters at War: Iraq and Jordan, 1958–1967", by