Report: Washington is pressing Iraq to replace Russian helicopters with American ones
Report: Washington is pressing Iraq to replace Russian helicopters with American ones
2-11-2023
Information/translation…
A report by the American website “Warzone”, which specializes in military affairs, revealed that there is pressure exerted by the United States on the Iraqi army to get rid of the Russian Mi-17 helicopters, with allegations of a lack of spare parts due to Russia’s preoccupation with the war with Ukraine and the sanctions on importing Russian parts.
The report, which was translated by the “Information” agency, stated that “the plans to replace the Russian helicopters of the Iraqi army were detailed in the quarterly report by the so-called Operation Inherent Resolve of the International Coalition and published by the offices of the Inspector General of the Ministry of Defense at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the US Agency for International Development.” “.
The report claimed that “because of the war in Ukraine, the ability of the Iraqi Air Force to access spare parts for Russian Mi-17 helicopters is restricted due to US restrictions and sanctions imposed on the purchase of Russian spare parts, and the current US plan is to sell four Bell Expo helicopters and 16 aircraft from Bell 412 to replace the Russian fleet.
There was no mention in the report of any issues the Iraqi military might encounter in operating its Russian-made attack helicopters. However, the US Army’s Office of Security Cooperation in Iraq told the inspectors general that it is “working with the Iraqi Ministry of Defense to convert the entire Iraqi Air Force fleet into a US fleet.” Although American helicopters are in no way equivalent to Russian helicopters.
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