It has been revealed that the Iraqi Air Force has supplied ASELSAN’s ASELPOD Electro-Optical Reconnaissance, Surveillance and Targeting Pod. In a photo posted on social media, the ASELSAN product ASELPOD is displayed on the L-159 ALCA Light Attack Aircraft in the Iraqi Air Force inventory. Aviation photographer Marco Dijkshoorn’s Twitter account "Didyman" displays ASELPOD integrated into the aircraft.
However, there is no information on how many pods are exported. Iraq had ordered 14 Czech-made L-159 aircraft. Currently, 12 aircraft are deployed to the 115th Squadron at Balad of the Iraqi Air Force.
ASELSAN made a statement to the Public Disclosure Platform (KAP) on September 21, 2022, and said, “ASELSAN has signed a sales contract covering avionic systems for the use of an international customer, with a total price of USD 31,807,273.61. Within the scope of the said contract, deliveries will be made in 2023-2024. “
The L-159 is a subsonic light combat and training aircraft. ASELSAN exported ASELPOD to JF-17 aircraft, which was previously developed jointly by Pakistan with China. The Pakistani and Nigerian Air Forces use this targeting pod on their JF-17 fighter jet.
