38034346 Iraq has bought 18 F 16
Iraqi Ministry of Defense purchased from USA 18 F-16 Fighting Falcon. On this, as reported by Agence France-Presse, said Advisor to the Prime Minister of Iraq, Ali Massawa (Ali Mussawi). Details of the agreement did not specify Massawa, but noted that the first payment under the contract the Iraqi Defense Ministry has already made. According to the newspaper The Wall Street Journal, citing a source in the U.S. government, the sum of the first installment is already listed Iraq, was $ 1.5 billion. At the end of 2010 it was reported that Iraq intends to purchase from USA 18 F-16 fighters, as well as weapons for them, ground support equipment and services to prepare pilots for a total of $ 4.2 billion. As expected, the F-16 fighters will be delivered to Iraq in the "trimmed " modification IQ. In particular, the airframe is the same as that of the latest models Fighting Falcon, but the radar and weapons will not be the latest. Thus, the F-16IQ will be set pulse-Doppler radar APG-68 (v) 9 mechanically scanned and older versions of missiles – AIM-9L/M-8/9 Sidewinder, AIM-7M-F1 / H Sparrow and AGM-65D / G / H / K Maverick. According to Reuters, referring to sources in the U.S. Department of Defense, the U.S. proposal on Iraq is estimated at three billion dollars. Purchase of 18 fighters, the U.S. is only part of the plan of the Ministry of Defense of Iraq to increase the combat power of the BBC. In the long term volume purchase F-16s from the U.S. will increase to 36 units, but when it can be signed a second contract is still unknown. Earlier, Iraqi authorities had planned to conclude with an agreement to supply U.S. F-16s in late 2010 – early 2011, intending to transfer as a down payment of $ 1.5 billion. However, in the spring of this year, the Government decided to divert $ 900 million for social programs, including the purchase and distribution of food to the public. Currently, in addition to buying the F-16, Iraq is considering purchasing second-hand fighter jets and new training and combat aircraft. France has already offered to the Department of Defense Iraq restored aircraft Mirage F1. The final decision on this proposal has not yet been adopted.
