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BAGHDAD — Iraq has received a draft accord for another batch of F-16
multi-role fighters from the United States.
Officials said Prime Minister Nouri Al
Maliki has urged Washington to accelerate weapons deliveries, including the
first batch of 18 F-16s, scheduled to begin in 2014.
Lockheed Martin has been contracted to provide 18 F-16 Block 52 fighter jets to Iraq.
Officials said Baghdad wants prime contractor Lockheed Martin to ship the first F-16s to the Iraq Air Force in 2013. They said Iraq and the United States agreed to examine ways to advance delivery of the aircraft.
Some U.S. officials are concerned that close ties between Iraq and Iran could result in the sharing of sensitive technology.
Officials said the government of Al Maliki was studying an agreement to purchase 18 F-16 Block 52 aircraft from the United States. They said the so-called Letter of Offer and Acceptance was estimated at some $2 billion, with deliveries expected to begin around 2016.
“The [new] contract is no different from the first contract in terms of
the technical and financial details,” Iraqi Defense Minister Sadoun Duleimi said. “Deliveries will be completed in 2018.”
On Oct. 18, Duleimi met senior U.S. officials in a review of military
and defense cooperation.
“There is a need for the Iraqi military to develop its defensive
abilities to protect Iraq’s security and national sovereignty,” Al Maliki
said in a statement. “They [Washington] must speed up the arming of the
Iraqi military with what they need in terms of defensive weapons that can
protect the sovereignty of Iraq and its independence, and provide a
deterrent towards any assault.”
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multi-role fighters from the United States.
Officials said Prime Minister Nouri Al
Maliki has urged Washington to accelerate weapons deliveries, including the
first batch of 18 F-16s, scheduled to begin in 2014.
Lockheed Martin has been contracted to provide 18 F-16 Block 52 fighter jets to Iraq.
Officials said Baghdad wants prime contractor Lockheed Martin to ship the first F-16s to the Iraq Air Force in 2013. They said Iraq and the United States agreed to examine ways to advance delivery of the aircraft.
Some U.S. officials are concerned that close ties between Iraq and Iran could result in the sharing of sensitive technology.
Officials said the government of Al Maliki was studying an agreement to purchase 18 F-16 Block 52 aircraft from the United States. They said the so-called Letter of Offer and Acceptance was estimated at some $2 billion, with deliveries expected to begin around 2016.
“The [new] contract is no different from the first contract in terms of
the technical and financial details,” Iraqi Defense Minister Sadoun Duleimi said. “Deliveries will be completed in 2018.”
On Oct. 18, Duleimi met senior U.S. officials in a review of military
and defense cooperation.
“There is a need for the Iraqi military to develop its defensive
abilities to protect Iraq’s security and national sovereignty,” Al Maliki
said in a statement. “They [Washington] must speed up the arming of the
Iraqi military with what they need in terms of defensive weapons that can
protect the sovereignty of Iraq and its independence, and provide a
deterrent towards any assault.”
[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]
