Interesting news, have often wondered just how long it was until the rebuilding effort moved onto fighters. Boeing and Lockheed must be rubbing their hands gleefully at having access to what in my opinion will be a very closed market. For now anyways. But are such procurements and transfers wise given the instability?
Just for reference, Iraq’s current air strength as per Jane’s World Airforces
Type
Seabird SB7L 360 Seeker - 2 in the observation role.
JAI SAMA CH2000 MTSA - 8 in the observation role.
Aerocomp Comp Air 7SL - 5 in the observation role.
Lockheed C-130E Hercules - 3 in the transport role.
Mil Mi-17 - 4 in the transport role.
Mil Mi-17/1 - 4 in the transport role.
PZL W3 Sokol - 2 in the communications role.
Bell UH-1 Iroquis II - 16 under order for the transport role.
Bell 206B Jet Ranger - 4 in the communications role.
Middle East News Line - Arms, Defence, Strategy Newsletter Vol.4 No.20
May 7 2007
IRAQ
The Iraq Air Force has drafted requirements for advanced U.S.-origin fighter-jets.
Officials said the air force envisions the procurement of the U.S.-origin F-15 and F-16 fighters over the next few years in a process meant to restore Iraq as a regional air power. They said the acquisition of advanced U.S. combat aircraft would replace Soviet-origin platforms in the Iraqi military.
http://www.menewsline.com/defense.html
Jane’s World Airforces - Iraq, 18 May 2007
Long-Term Outlook
A 2003 study undertaken by the Coalition command in Iraq - the Combined Joint Task Force-7 (CJTF-7) - envisaged that in the longer term Iraq might again deploy fully-equipped armed forces with a strength of more than 225,000 personnel, including an air force and air defence force.
The CJTF-7 study envisaged a move away from Soviet-designed aircraft to Western designs, suggesting acquisition by a future Iraqi air arm of 40 F-15 Eagle and 160 F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft, on the premise that these are modern fighting aircraft, but by no means the most advanced US aircraft being flown in the region. Pointing out that neighbouring Saudi Arabia also deploys the F-15, the study suggested that the variant most likely to be sold or leased to Iraq would be the F-15C, which is optimised for air superiority missions.
The study perceived the Iraqi Air Force of the future having a strength of 25,000 personnel, significantly less than under Saddam Hussein, when it numbered about 30,000, augmented by an air defence command organisation that had an estimated 17,000 personnel
