Team Infidel
Forum Spin Doctor
Financial Times
October 1, 2008
The Iraqi government has begun talks with European allies about arms purchases as it rebuilds its military in a drive towards independence from US forces.
Iraqi representatives have visited UK defence officials in recent months as part of a series of “fact-finding” missions in Europe, according to people close to UK Trade & Investment, the agency charged with attracting investment into Britain.
“It is a concerted effort to see what is available in the marketplace,” said one official familiar with the talks. The Iraqis were interested in a range of equipment, from secure communication systems to border protection technology.
The talks underscore Iraq’s ambition to strengthen the capabilities of its security forces as they increasingly take over operational control from the US military. The US has also pushed to arm Iraq for the same reason.
Iraq has spent about $3bn – money from its own resources – mostly on US-made military equipment, including rifles, pistols, ammunition, mortars, various aircraft, and a range of transport vehicles, through the US foreign military sales (FMS) programme since January 2007.
Some of the larger items include 140 Abrams tanks, made by General Dynamics, six Lockheed Martin C-130J military cargo aircraft, and 24 Russian-made Mi-17 armed reconnaissance helicopters.
US companies have already supplied roughly half the ordered equipment, while the remaining $1.5bn is under contract. Iraq has about $300m remaining in its FMS account, according to a Pentagon spokeswoman.
Future equipment sales are expected to be financed by Iraq’s rising oil revenues.
“They [the Baghdad government] are fighting for today and fighting for an independent military,” said Richard Aboulafia, defence expert at the Teal Group.
“The important thing is they are buying from western powers which implies, if not alignment, at least some co-operation moving forward. You buy Russian or Chinese arms when you don’t want to be dependent on western manufacturers.”
Michael O’Hanlon, a military expert at the Brookings Institution, described Iraq as “a big opportunity” for contractors. “Mideast oil producers are typically among the world’s biggest arms customers, and in this case, Iraq is starting almost from scratch,” he said.
“Now that Iraq’s army and police are well on the way to winning the internal fight against insurgents and militias, their natural tendency to worry about their neighbours is re-surfacing.”
Mr Aboulafia said the Iraqis would be looking to buy not just equipment, but also training and support.
October 1, 2008
The Iraqi government has begun talks with European allies about arms purchases as it rebuilds its military in a drive towards independence from US forces.
Iraqi representatives have visited UK defence officials in recent months as part of a series of “fact-finding” missions in Europe, according to people close to UK Trade & Investment, the agency charged with attracting investment into Britain.
“It is a concerted effort to see what is available in the marketplace,” said one official familiar with the talks. The Iraqis were interested in a range of equipment, from secure communication systems to border protection technology.
The talks underscore Iraq’s ambition to strengthen the capabilities of its security forces as they increasingly take over operational control from the US military. The US has also pushed to arm Iraq for the same reason.
Iraq has spent about $3bn – money from its own resources – mostly on US-made military equipment, including rifles, pistols, ammunition, mortars, various aircraft, and a range of transport vehicles, through the US foreign military sales (FMS) programme since January 2007.
Some of the larger items include 140 Abrams tanks, made by General Dynamics, six Lockheed Martin C-130J military cargo aircraft, and 24 Russian-made Mi-17 armed reconnaissance helicopters.
US companies have already supplied roughly half the ordered equipment, while the remaining $1.5bn is under contract. Iraq has about $300m remaining in its FMS account, according to a Pentagon spokeswoman.
Future equipment sales are expected to be financed by Iraq’s rising oil revenues.
“They [the Baghdad government] are fighting for today and fighting for an independent military,” said Richard Aboulafia, defence expert at the Teal Group.
“The important thing is they are buying from western powers which implies, if not alignment, at least some co-operation moving forward. You buy Russian or Chinese arms when you don’t want to be dependent on western manufacturers.”
Michael O’Hanlon, a military expert at the Brookings Institution, described Iraq as “a big opportunity” for contractors. “Mideast oil producers are typically among the world’s biggest arms customers, and in this case, Iraq is starting almost from scratch,” he said.
“Now that Iraq’s army and police are well on the way to winning the internal fight against insurgents and militias, their natural tendency to worry about their neighbours is re-surfacing.”
Mr Aboulafia said the Iraqis would be looking to buy not just equipment, but also training and support.