Special to WorldTribune.com

BAGHDAD — Iraq has acquired its first fighter-jet in more than a decade.

The government said the Iraq Air Force received the Su-25 fighter-jet from Russia. Officials said seven warplanes arrived in Baghdad on June 28-29 as part of a deal worth up to $500 million.

“We are in urgent need of this type of aircraft during this difficult
time,” Iraq Air Force commander Lt. Gen. Anwar Amin said.

Officials said the 1970s-era Su-25s came from Russian Air Force surplus.
They said the twin-engine ground-attack aircraft would begin flying missions
against Al Qaida’s Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant.

“These jets will enter service within a few days — the coming three or
four days — in order to support the units and to fight the terrorist ISIL
organization,” Amin said.

On June 26, Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Al Maliki announced the Su-25
procurement. Al Maliki said Iraq was procuring more than a dozen aircraft in
the first display of Iraqi combat air power since the fall of Saddam Hussein
in 2003.

Neither Amin nor Al Maliki disclosed who would fly the Su-25s. The Iraq
Air Force has not flown the aircraft in more than a decade and the original
pilots were said to have long retired.

But officials said the Russian Air Force has sent training and
maintenance crews to operate the single-seat Su-25s. They did not rule out
that Russian pilots would help in initial missions.

The Su-25 deal was arranged amid U.S. hesitation to export the first of
36 F-16 multi-role fighters. Officials cited the flight of U.S. trainers and
contractors from the Iraq Air Force base in Balad, meant to house the F-16s.

“Yes, there has been a delay from the Americans in handing over
contracted arms,” Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Hussein Al Shahristani told
the U.S.-sponsored Al Hurra television. “We told them, ‘You once did an air
bridge to send arms to your ally Israel, so why don’t you give us the
contracted arms in time?'”

  but who will fly them?, Iraqi Air Force gets emergency Su-25s from Russia, ISIL, Lt. Gen. Anwar Amin, Nour Al-Maliki