At the new Iraqi Air Base Al-Muthana in Baghdad, (Iraq erected in 2006) the Department of Defense has solicited and awarded a support contract worth $43 million to one of the largest U.S. defense contractors in the industry. Iraqi Major General Kamal said, "It is important for them (Iraqis) to see tangible results and cooperation," "Building up an air force takes so much work, finance and dedication."

Although Iraq's air force is much smaller now compared to during Saddam Hussein's era, now it is better than before, Iraqi Col. Jabber said. "Now our air force supports the government and the people. In the past the air force only supported Saddam," he said. "We are humanitarian now."  

Kestrel - Persistent Ground Surveillance Systems was designed for use on a tethered blimp, the Kestrel surveillance system is the only technology of its kind that can scan a city-sized area at once — both day and night. This provides a heightened level of security for troops, particularly at forward operating bases. With its 360-degree field of view, Kestrel allows operators to simultaneously track and record multiple targets in medium-resolution over many kilometers. Kestrel can also cue full motion video (FMV) sensors for higher resolution imaging.