Iraq’s efforts to obtain an AEW or AWACS aircraft were centred on two primary components: a Tigre-G radar of French origin manufactured under licence by the Saad-16 Works, and the Soviet-made Ilyushin Il-76 transport. In 1989–1990, this effort resulted in the emergence of the first two viable platforms. The Adnan-1 (always painted in white on the top fuselage and light grey elsewhere) was the first to have its radar installed in a radome atop a twin-arm pedestal above the rear fuselage. Adnan-2, which wore a camouflage pattern in two shades of grey, as reconstructed here, was much more advanced and, as of late 1990, approaching the level of development short of entering operational service. Notably, both could carry the Thomson-CSF TMV-018 Syrel ESM-pod under the central fuselage (shown inset). Their further development ended on 16 January 1991, when the Adnan-2 was destroyed by US laser-guided bombs while parked at Taqaddum AB, while Adnan-1 was evacuated to Iran a few weeks later. (Artwork by Tom Cooper)