The new government direction includes combat aircraft, French drones, artillery and Russian tanks, as well as modern air monitoring systems, as the ongoing negotiations have reached an advanced stage, according to Defense News, which spoke of plans to increase the number of tanks and teams to enhance the capabilities of the Iraqi army, which He owns American Abrams tanks and Russian T-90s.
After 2003, Iraq relied almost completely on the United States to arm its ground and air forces alike, without being able to strengthen its defense systems with Russian equipment due to Washington’s reservations.
Drones and tanks
In this context, the spokesman for the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Major General Yahya Rasoul, confirmed, on Saturday, Iraq’s intention to send delegations to several European countries to purchase types of weapons.
Rasool said, in a statement to the official agency, INA, that “Iraq seeks to move in several countries to buy combat and drone aircraft, as well as to buy tanks and cannons and obtain several defense systems,” noting that “delegations will be sent to several European countries, as well as to Pakistan to buy types of weapons that secure Iraq’s capabilities by air and land.”
He added that “Iraq is open to all countries within the framework of strengthening its military capabilities, and there are plans to increase the number of tanks and increase divisions and battalions to raise the capabilities of the Iraqi army,” noting that “Iraq intends to purchase advanced drones and tanks, which enhances the defense system for all sectors of the armed forces.” “.
An official in the Iraqi Ministry of Defense, spoke about the nature of the new government’s approach, stressing that it comes “within the current government’s efforts to enhance the country’s security in general, as the foreign visits conducted by Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi resulted in several understandings with other countries whose confidence in Iraq has been enhanced due to the movement.” Diplomatic and international support as well,” referring to “the ministry’s moves, on several levels, whether in armaments or training, and others.”
The Iraqi official, who declined to be named, added to “Sky News Arabia”, “The regional situation and the instability of security in neighboring countries, such as Syria, stimulated the Iraqi move to import many deficiencies, whether with border guards or air defense systems, in light of Entering drones, without being detected.”
He pointed out that “this move is also linked to the threat of some armed groups to regional countries to target them, which made the Iraqi government feel responsible towards its brothers, and not turn the country’s territory into a source of threat to other countries,” stressing that “the first deals will focus on air defense systems, As well as planes, from France, to complete the rest of the deals.”
Defense systems..the most important needs of Iraq
In recent years, Iraq has moved to find new sources of defensive weapons, and it already has Russian military systems dating back to the era of former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein.
Despite the defeat of ISIS since 2016, it launches its attacks on Iraqi forces from time to time, in several cities in the country, amid warnings of its growing strength due to lax security.
In this context, the retired Brigadier General in the former Iraqi army, Kamal Al-Tai, believes that “the country needs a serious move towards the field of armament, as most of the contracts that Iraq signed were before the war with ISIS, and it has exhausted most of those weapons that have become old and do not meet the needs of the stage.” current”.
In an interview with “Sky News Arabia”, Al-Taie believes that “the most important thing that Iraq needs at the present time is the defense systems that guard the airspace due to the spread of drones and the escalation of their threat, whether those entering or leaving the country, which obliges the government to take urgent action.” to mitigate this security risk.