Desperate Iraq turns to Czech Republic for Mi-24 attack helicopters

Special to WorldTribune.com

LONDON — Iraq has been negotiating for military aircraft from the Czech Republic.

Officials said the Iraqi Defense Ministry has advanced in talks to procure Russian-origin aircraft from the Czech Air Force.

Mi-24 attack helicopter
Mi-24 attack helicopter

The officials said Baghdad sought to acquire up to 40 Mi-24 attack helicopters as well as the L-159 light attack jet.

“They have shown interest in the helicopters,” Czech Defense Minister
Martin Stropnicky said.

In remarks to the Czech daily Mlada, Stropnicky provided few details of
the Iraqi talks, which could result in up to $20 million in sales. But other
officials said the Iraqi interest reflected an urgent requirement for attack
aircraft to repel the advance of Al Qaida’s Islamic State of Iraq and the
Levant.

The Czech Air Force has sought to sell surplus Russian-origin platforms
to the Middle East. The Air Force was said to operate 17 twin-engine Mi-24s,
most of them supplied by Moscow nearly 20 years ago.

Stropnicky also said the Czech government could sell Iraq the L-159
aircraft, also designed for combat training. He said the subsonic L-159,
produced by Czech’s Aero Vodochody, could include Air Force surplus.

Officials said the Defense Ministry was offering to overhaul the Mi-24s
for Iraq. But they said the negotiations were slowed down by ISIL’s
offensive south toward Baghdad.

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