Iraq Seeks to Buy 36 F-16s from US

[tigershark]

Iraq Seeks F-16 Fighters
Part of Shopping Spree for New Weapons

By AUGUST COLE and YOCHI J. DREAZEN
September 5, 2008; Page A1
WASHINGTON -- The Iraqi government is seeking to buy 36 advanced F-16 fighters from the U.S., say American military officials familiar with the request, a move that could help reduce its reliance on U.S. air power and potentially allow more American forces to withdraw from the country than had been proposed.
[An F-16C Fighting Falcon flies by during a U.S. Air Force demonstration in Nevada last year.]
Getty Images
An F-16C Fighting Falcon flies by during a U.S. Air Force demonstration in Nevada last year.

If it clears hurdles in Washington, the multibillion-dollar deal would give the Iraqi government a powerful new weapon to use against the country's Shiite and Sunni insurgents. But the rapid rebuilding of Iraq's military forces with U.S. equipment such as F-16s could also be viewed with concern by other countries in the region, because of the placement of advanced weaponry in the hands of a nascent government of a country still struggling for stability.

The Air Force says it has 300 planes and helicopters in Iraq and Afghanistan, mostly in Iraq, but declined to provide a further breakdown, making it difficult to assess the impact of the proposed sale on overall air power there. Senior American officials have long argued that Iraq would need the U.S. to keep fighters and attack helicopters deployed throughout the country indefinitely, even as American ground troops start to withdraw.

Iraq now appears determined to significantly expand the air power of its military, which has become more competent and confident in recent months but depends heavily on the U.S. for air support. Iraq quickly has become one of the biggest weapons buyers in the world as it seeks to strengthen and professionalize its fighting force.

The F-16, made by Lockheed Martin Corp., is the most sophisticated weapons system Iraq has attempted to purchase so far. The Pentagon recently notified Congress that it had approved the sale of 24 American attack helicopters to Iraq, valued at as much as $2.4 billion. Including the helicopters, Iraq has announced plans this year to purchase at least $10 billion in U.S. tanks and armored vehicles, transport planes and other battlefield equipment and services, benefiting companies such as General Dynamics Corp., Boeing Co. and Raytheon Co.

Last year, the U.S. had world-wide foreign military sales of $23.3 billion, according to the Defense Security Cooperation Agency.

The weapons deals, which will use Iraqi funds, come as Baghdad and Washington work to finalize a new long-term security pact that calls for American military forces to leave Iraq's cities by next summer as a prelude to a broader withdrawal from the country.
[Nouri al-Maliki]

U.S. officials initially said the pact's withdrawal provision only applied to American combat troops, but Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki recently told reporters that he wants all American forces -- not just ground combat ones -- out of his country by 2011.

"The [F-16] request itself represents yet another reflection of Maliki's growing confidence in his government and the Iraqi security forces," said Kenneth Katzman, an Iraq specialist at the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service. "It reflects his continued efforts to gain more independence from the United States on military and security issues."

There are potential pitfalls both for Iraq and U.S. officials in the move. A steady cadre of well-trained Iraqi pilots will need time to learn the planes' tactics and weapons, and ground crews will have to maintain them to high standards to avoid performance or safety problems. The U.S. currently uses a wide variety of planes for air support in Iraq, so it's unclear how big a role Iraqi F-16s could play.

Source and full story
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122056503871901333.html?mod=googlenews_wsj



Iraq Seeks to Buy 36 F-16s from US
agence france-presse
Published: 5 Sep 10:25 EDT (14:25 GMT)

WASHINGTON - Iraq's government wants to buy 36 advanced F-16 fighters from the U.S., the Wall Street Journal reported Sept. 5, citing U.S. military officials.

Such a purchase would help reduce Baghdad's reliance on U.S. air power and possibly clear the way for the withdrawal of more U.S. troops, the paper said.
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U.S. officials have previously maintained that the U.S. would have to keep fighter aircraft and helicopters in Iraq even after American combat troops leave.

But even if the deal was approved, countries in the region would likely be concerned with Baghdad's fledgling government having control of such sophisticated arms, the paper added.

Iraq has said it plans to buy about $10 billion of U.S. military hardware, including tanks and armored vehicles and transport aircraft.

The report of more possible arms deals come as Iraqi and U.S. officials negotiate a sensitive security agreement governing the long-term withdrawal of U.S. forces from the country.

Source
http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?i=3709643&c=AME&s=TOP