Iraq’s Air Force to Grow
Iraq has plans to increase its fledgling air force significantly in the coming years:
The first order is for 108 combat aircraft from the US and France, and is to be delivered in 2011. The aircraft on Iraq’s shopping list provides insight into how Iraqis hope to configure their Air Force.
… Since 516 aircraft are being bought for delivery 2011-2015, and 108 are already ordered for delivery in 2011, this means 408 remain for the period 2012-2015, and the Iraqis will purchase 102 aircraft per year.
The fact that Iraq is able to expend this money in a timely fashion is an improvement over the fractious, indecisive government decisions of the past. In addition, these aircraft will not only be able to help in counter-insurgency, but also to ward off potential threats from other neighboring nations. And note that Iraq is buying Western, and not Russian.
