During my many flying deployments to Iraq, I remember hearing two different air traffic control agencies over the radios. After takeoff and flying to our area of operation, we would be under Baghdad air traffic control (ATC)’s jurisdiction. However, once we were approaching our area of operation, we will check off from Baghdad ATC and switch frequencies to check in with Kingpin. Kingpin is an American tactical air traffic control agency not just for Iraq but for the whole Middle East where US military aircraft operate. They essentially control all US and allied aircraft conducting military operations in the Middle East.
While military aircraft are still required to be under Baghdad ATC’s control while transiting through Iraqi airspace, it is Kingpin the controlling agency while conducting military operations. Baghdad ATC is composed of Iraqi nationals and expatriates that control all civilian air traffic over Iraq’s airspace. They have American-provided ASR-11 Airport Surveillance Radars, ATC Automation systems with controller stations, Auto Track Airfield Support and Navigation Suites, Primary Search Radars, and Mono-pulse secondary surveillance radars. Kingpin is the 727th Expeditionary Air Control Squadron based on Al Dhafra air base, UAE. They depend on ground-based radars stationed at different military bases across the Middle East and Airborne Warning and Control Systems like E-3 AWACS aircraft to provide tactical air control.
It is interesting to see how the US military has established air traffic control capabilities that control its military aircraft conducting military operations around the world. Without having such capability, we will not have command and control capabilities through the battle space.
Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA). (2014). Iraq: Air Traffic Control and
Landing System. https://www.dsca.mil/sites/default/files/mas/iraq_13-61.pdf
Hlad, J. (2017). Managing The CENTCOM Air Battle.
https://www.airforcemag.com/managing-the-centcom-air-battle/
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