Iraq Buys 24 F/A-50 / T-50IQ Aircraft From South Korea

South Korea has sold Iraq 24 F/A-50 light multi-role aircraft for about $1.1 billion to be delivered in 2015 and 2016. Another contract to be signed later for related training and other services could raise the value to $2.1 billion.

The F/A-50 was selected over the Hawk 128, Yak 130 and L-159 and is the first time the type has been exported after entering service earlier with South Korea. Other interested countries in the F/A-50 include the Philippines, although no contract has been signed so far.

The F/A-50 is based on the T-50 Golden Eagle trainer aircraft, a joint project between Korea Aerospace Industries and Lockheed Martin, with an intermediate version known as the T/A-50. The latter added attack capabilities to the training role of the original, while the F/A-50 can also function as a light fighter.

The T-50 and T/A-50 had previously been exported to other countries such as Indonesia. In Iraq it will enter service as the T-50IQ, where it will complement the F-16C/D bought from the United States.

Iraq has ordered 36 F-16IQ aircraft in two batches to be delivered starting in 2014. Also to be delivered soon are 40 Mi-28 and Mi-35 attack helicopters, of which the first four Mi-35 were received from Russia last November.


http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/national/2013/12/12/63/0301000000AEN20131212005100315F.html

By Tech. Sgt. Lee Osberry [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

US Awards Second Batch of 18 F-16 Block 52 Fighter Aircraft For Iraq

The United States Department of Defense has awarded a $830 million contract to Lockheed Martin to build the second batch of modified F-16 Block 52 fighter aircraft, including related equipment and services.

Iraq had earlier expressed interest in purchasing a second batch of 18 F-16 fighter aircraft. The total value of that contract was estimated at $2.3 billion and included:

• 18 F-16IQ aircraft
• 24 F100PW-229 or F110-GE-129 Increased Performance Engines
• 120 LAU-129/A Common Rail Launchers
• 24 APG-68(V)9 radar sets
• 19 M61 20mm Vulcan Cannons
• 100 AIM-9L/M-8/9 Sidewinder Missiles
• 150 AIM-7M-F1/H SPARROW Missiles
• 50 AGM-65D/G/H/K Maverick Air to Ground Missiles
• 200 GBU-12 PAVEWAY II Laser Guided Bomb Units (500 pound)
• 50 GBU-10 PAVEWAY II Laser Guided Bomb Units (2000 pound)
• 50 GBU-24 PAVEWAY III Laser Guided Bomb Units (2000 pound)
• 22 ALQ-211 Advanced Integrated Defensive Electronic Warfare Suites (AIDEWS), or Advanced Countermeasures Electronic System (ACES) (ACES includes the ALQ-187 Electronic Warfare System and AN/ALR-93 Radar Warning Receiver)
• 20 AN/APX-113 Advanced Identification Friend or Foe (AIFF) Systems (without Mode IV)
• 20 Global Positioning Systems (GPS) and Embedded GPS/ Inertial Navigation Systems (INS), (Standard Positioning Service (SPS) commercial code only)
• 20 AN/AAQ-33 SNIPER or AN/AAQ-28 LITENING Targeting Pods
• 4 F-9120 Advanced Airborne Reconnaissance Systems (AARS) or DB-110 Reconnaissance Pods (RECCE)
• 22 AN/ALE-47 Countermeasures Dispensing Systems (CMDS)
• 20 Conformal Fuel Tanks (pairs)
• 120 Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing Systems (JHMCS)
• 20 AN/ARC-238 Single Channel Ground and Airborne Radio Systems
• 10000 PGU-27A/B Ammunition
• 30000 PGU-28 Ammunition
• 230 MK-84 2000 lbs General Purpose Bombs
• 800 MK-82 500 lbs General Purpose Bombs.

The order includes single-seat F-16C and dual-seat F-16D aircraft. Iraq had previously ordered a first batch of 18 aircraft in 2011. The first aircraft from the first batch are scheduled to be delivered in 2014.

Iraq will receive the last three out of six C-130J Super Hercules turboprop transport aircraft later this year. The first three were delivered to the Iraqi Air Force in December 2012. The planes were ordered in 2009 and cost about $433 million.

The aircraft are meant to rebuild the Iraqi Air Force from the ground up, which had effectively ceased to exist as a fighting force. Most of its aircraft were either shot down, destroyed on the ground or fled to Iran after the start of Desert Storm.


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Iraq expects delivery of 30 Mi-28NE and 50 Pantsir-S1 later this year from Russia

According to the Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari, Russia will start delivery of the Mi-28NE attack helicopter and Pantsir-S1 Self Propelled Anti-Aircraft Gun as soon as financial matters have been resolved, which he estimates to be no later than the start of this summer.

Last October, Russia and Iraq announced a $4.2 billion contract for the delivery of 30 Mi-28NE attack helicopters and 50 Pantsir-S1 gun-missile, short-range, air defense systems.

The announcement was made during a meeting between Iraq's Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and his Russian counterpart, Dmitry Medvedev. The deal would be Russia's largest since 2006.

Shortly thereafter, Iraq announced that the deal had been put on hold pending review. In November, Iraq’s acting Defense Minister Sadun Al-Dulaymi denied reports that the deal had been cancelled due to corruption.

The Mil Mi-28NE Havoc is a tandem, all-weather, day-night, two-seat, attack helicopter with:

• a length of 17 m
• a rotor diameter of 17.2 m
• a height of 4.7 m
• an empty weight of 8600 kg
• a maximum takeoff weight of 11500 kg
• a maximum speed of 320 km/hr
• a ferry range of 1100 km
• a ceiling of 5700 m

The Mi-28NE is powered by 2 Klimov TV3-117VMA turboshafts with 1636 kW (2194 shp) each.

The Mi-28NE can be fitted with up to 16 Ataka anti-tank, thermobaric or other guided air-to-surface missiles, air-to-air missiles, unguided rockets and a 30 mm gun mounted beneath the chin.

The Pantsir-S1 from the KBP Design Bureau is a mobile, short-to-medium range, air defense system fitted with:

• 2 x 6 radio-command guided, 57E6 surface-to-air missiles with a range of up to 20 km and an altitude of 15 km
• two dual 2A38M 30 mm guns with a range of up to 4 km

The Pantsir-S1 is considered to be the successor of the Tunguska-M1.


http://en.rian.ru/world/20130304/179805890/Iraq-to-Get-Russian-Weapons-by-June---Minister.html

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By A.Savin [CC-BY-SA-3.0], via Wikimedia Commons