A senior commander said the Iraq Air Force has nearly completed
preparations for the procurement of the first of up to 75 F-16s from the
United States.
"The Iraq Air Force plans for COB Q-West to be fully equipped with three
squadrons [of F-16s]," Col. Mohammed Natiq said.
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Natiq, commander of the Q-West air base, said the facility would receive
the first F-16s by 2011. He said unidentified new helicopters would also arrive over the
next few months.
A military source said the first aircraft to arrive from the United
States would be F-16A/B aircraft from U.S. Air Force surplus. The source
said the first such platforms were expected before the U.S. military pullout
from Iraq by late 2011.
The U.S. military has acknowledged high-level discussions with Iraq for
an F-16 deal. But spokespeople said no contract has been signed.
The Iraq Air Force has also been preparing for the arrival of at least
30 EC-635 utility helicopters from the Paris-based Eurocopter. So far, two
of the platforms have arrived in Iraq's Taji Air Force Base. The contract
calls for an option of another 20 EC-635s.
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