Republic of Kurdistan Air Force “Saladin” Mk. 1

Gallery Article by Eugene E. Madara, Esq. on Jan 7 2015

 

      

Shortly after the fall of Saddam Hussein, the embryonic Republic of Kurdistan, recognizing that an air-to-ground attack aircraft capable of vertical take-off and landing in a desert environment would be vital to ROK defense.  It could be used against the various regional sectarian forces arrayed against the Kurdish homeland, so they secretly developed the Saladin Mk. 1 (named after the famous Muslim commander, who was the native Kurd who recaptured the Holy Land from the Crusaders in the Middle Ages). 

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The aircraft borrowed heavily from the American A-10 aircraft design and technology, being heavily-armored around the cockpit, built around two massive turbofan engines located on opposite sides of the Saladin’s fuselage to prevent damage from a hit on one engine spreading to both, and armed with a massive 30mm Vulcan cannon. Potentially vulnerable wheels and tires were replaced with sturdy struts and landing skids, each capable of “walking” the Saladin across broken ground and sandy terrain.

Enjoy the photos.

Eugene E. Madara, Esq.

Photos and text © by Eugene E. Madara, Esq.