ERBIL (Agencies): The US military has announced plans to expand helicopter facilities at Erbil Air Base, located in the capital of the Kurdistan Region in northern Iraq. This marks the first major base project unveiled since the announcement of the conclusion of Operation ‘Inherent Resolve’ in Iraq later this year.
According to a pre-solicitation notice published by the US Army Corps of Engineers on April 5, the expansion will double the staging capacity at the northern rotary aircraft ramp and pave areas for two large maintenance shelters. The contract, estimated to be worth $1–5 million, is expected to be awarded later this month and completed within 550 days.
This development comes as the Iraqi and US governments transition to a bilateral security partnership following the conclusion of Operation ‘Inherent Resolve’ by September 2025. While the mission against the Islamic State group will end in federal Iraq, US-led coalition operations are set to continue in Syria and the Kurdistan Region until September 2026.
US officials have emphasized the strategic importance of Erbil Air Base in supporting ongoing regional security efforts. The quarterly report on Operation ‘Inherent Resolve’ released in February highlighted that the mission’s conclusion in federal Iraq would allow continued operations in the Kurdistan Regional Government’s territory.
As work begins on the new helicopter capacity, the project underscores the evolving security dynamics in Iraq and the importance of Erbil as a regional hub for coalition activities. Further updates are expected as the contract progresses.