Reuters: Iraq receives first batch of F-16 aircraft early 2014
Senior official said on Sunday that Iraq will receive the deal early in 2014 the first of 24 aircraft from the F-16 fighter jets in the 36 aircraft had been ordered from the United States.
During the rule of former President Saddam Hussein was the Iraqi Air Force’s top weapons in the region and includes hundreds of Soviet-made aircraft. Saddam’s army was dissolved after the US-led invasion in 2003.
In July, doubled the Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, the number of aircraft that Iraq had planned to buy initially in order to promote the Air Force, which has been neglected for a long period in which the country adopted the U.S. air support.
Iskandar said, berry Vice Chairman of the security and defense committee in Parliament that the first 24 aircraft will form the two squadrons in the Air Force.
And berries, adding that Iraq intends to acquire more sophisticated equipment from neighboring countries.
He said Iraq will seek to buy more aircraft in the future. The pilots already trained to lead the new F-16 aircraft.
Some neighbors of Iraq and Kurdistan Region President Masoud Barzani, they were concerned for the acquisition of these aircraft to Baghdad.
Barzani said last week that he feels that the future of Kurdistan is facing a grave danger because of al-Maliki, adding that he should not have the F-16 aircraft.
And between the central government and the Kurdish region has long been disagreement about autonomy and the rights of oil and disputed territory.
But these fears Tut denied he told Reuters that the goal is to buy the planes to defend Iraq.
alliraqnews.com
