Tuesday, January 11th 2011
4-year Iraqi-American military contract signed
Baghdad, Jan. 11 (AKnews) – An official source in the Iraqi government said on Tuesday that it has signed a 4-year $13.5bn contract with the U.S. military to equip and train the Iraqi army for the next four years.
The source who asked to remain unnamed told AKnews that under the terms of the contract, the U.S. will supply Iraq with military aircraft and high spec. tanks as well as a range of arms and equipment similar to those of the American army.
According to the source, the contract includes training for the majority of Iraq’s military units in modern strategic methods, particularly concerning border protection and the management of street violence.
“The Iraqi government has already started preparations for the conclusion of the contract with the U.S. Army, which will be within 60 days.”
The Iraqi Air Force has 115 aircraft, including C13 jets and MI17 planes as well as T-6 training craft and ISR reconnaissance planes supplied by the U.S. forces.
The contract for purchasing the American-made F16 fighter aircraft has reached advanced stages and the first aircraft is hoped to arrive in Iraq in spring 2013.
According to Ministry of Defense figures, the Iraqi army has 115,000 ground force infantry, considered to be the cornerstone of Iraq’s military strength.
The first units of the Iraqi armed forces were formed in 1921 during the British Mandate, followed by the formation of the Iraqi Air Force in 1931 and the Iraqi navy in 1937.
The Iraqi military was at it strongest at the end of the Iraqi-Iranian war when it comprised of over a million troops.
After 2003, the civil administrator in Iraq Paul Bremer issued a decision to disband the Iraqi army before being re-formed and re-armed.
The current Iraqi military comprises 130,000 members including 115,000 infantry, 700 in the Air Force, 1,100 in the Navy, 1,500 in the Special Forces, and 11,000 in various fighting units.
According to the ministry, the Iraqi army has 114 combat battalions, including an anti-terrorism regiment associated with the Office of the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces Nouri al-Maliki, in addition to the Thunder Regiment and eight regiments for strategic infrastructure.
http://www.aknews.com/en/aknews/3/209605/
Baghdad, Jan. 11 (AKnews) – An official source in the Iraqi government said on Tuesday that it has signed a 4-year $13.5bn contract with the U.S. military to equip and train the Iraqi army for the next four years.
The source who asked to remain unnamed told AKnews that under the terms of the contract, the U.S. will supply Iraq with military aircraft and high spec. tanks as well as a range of arms and equipment similar to those of the American army.
According to the source, the contract includes training for the majority of Iraq’s military units in modern strategic methods, particularly concerning border protection and the management of street violence.
“The Iraqi government has already started preparations for the conclusion of the contract with the U.S. Army, which will be within 60 days.”
The Iraqi Air Force has 115 aircraft, including C13 jets and MI17 planes as well as T-6 training craft and ISR reconnaissance planes supplied by the U.S. forces.
The contract for purchasing the American-made F16 fighter aircraft has reached advanced stages and the first aircraft is hoped to arrive in Iraq in spring 2013.
According to Ministry of Defense figures, the Iraqi army has 115,000 ground force infantry, considered to be the cornerstone of Iraq’s military strength.
The first units of the Iraqi armed forces were formed in 1921 during the British Mandate, followed by the formation of the Iraqi Air Force in 1931 and the Iraqi navy in 1937.
The Iraqi military was at it strongest at the end of the Iraqi-Iranian war when it comprised of over a million troops.
After 2003, the civil administrator in Iraq Paul Bremer issued a decision to disband the Iraqi army before being re-formed and re-armed.
The current Iraqi military comprises 130,000 members including 115,000 infantry, 700 in the Air Force, 1,100 in the Navy, 1,500 in the Special Forces, and 11,000 in various fighting units.
According to the ministry, the Iraqi army has 114 combat battalions, including an anti-terrorism regiment associated with the Office of the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces Nouri al-Maliki, in addition to the Thunder Regiment and eight regiments for strategic infrastructure.
http://www.aknews.com/en/aknews/3/209605/
