US sells $2 billion worth of advanced weapons to Iraq
Archival photo
(Iraqinews.com) Baghdad – US Department of Defense (Pentagon) announced on Thursday, that the United States approved to sell 16,000 laser-guided bombs to Iraq in order to equip its F-16 attack jets with a total value of two billion dollars.
The US Department of Defense said in a statement followed by IraqiNews.com, “The US administration has approved to sell 16,000 laser-guided bombs of a value of two billion US dollar to Iraq in order to equip its F-16 attack jets.”
The statement added, “The deal will double the firepower of the fighter jets,” noting that, “The deal includes 24 each AIM-9M Sidewinder missile that will be used to shoot down ISIS aircraft.”
The statement continued, “The deal also included the equipment of the Iraqi Air Force with Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing System (JHMCS),” indicating that, “Iraq requires these additional weapons, munitions and technical services to maintain the operational capabilities of its aircraft.”
“This proposed sale enables Iraq to fully maintain and employ its aircraft and sustain pilot training to effectively protect Iraq from current and future threats,” the statement added.