Iraq Signs Air-Defence Contracts, Plans to Expand Aircraft Fleet

The War Zone

A war plane.

The Ministry of Defence announced on Sunday that it has signed new contracts with several countries possessing advanced air-defence capabilities, including South Korea. The ministry also confirmed ongoing efforts to expand Iraq’s aircraft fleet within the limits of available financial resources.

Maj. Gen. Tahseen al-Khafaji, Director of Media and Moral Guidance at the Ministry of Defence, told the Iraq's state media Iraqi News Agency (INA): “There are contracts with countries that have significant capabilities in air defence, including South Korea, which possesses advanced technological systems and maintains strong relations with the Iraqi government.”

He added that a timetable for the delivery of air-defence systems had been agreed upon and approved by both sides, with the systems expected to arrive in Iraq during the coming year.

Regarding Iraq’s aircraft fleet, al-Khafaji stated that the ministry aims to increase the number of military aircraft in accordance with available funding. He noted that the current fleet is sufficient for operational requirements but emphasised Iraq’s ambition to acquire additional multi-role aircraft to strengthen the Air Force Command’s ability to carry out a broader range of missions.



PUKMEDIA