Posted on 01/27/2011 7:59:26 PM PST by sukhoi-30mki
France offering Mirage fighters to Iraq France has proposed to sell 18 Mirage fighters to Iraq, which is already negotiating a deal for US F-16s to protect its skies after US forces pull out at the end of this year, the French ambassador said on Thursday.
"France has proposed to sell 18 Mirage F1 retrofitted aircraft that can be delivered from late 2011 and immediately operational because many Iraqi pilots were trained in the past on this type of plane," Boris Boillon told AFP.
He said France was offering the multi-role planes for $1 billion (733 million euros).
Baghdad has been negotiating to buy 18 US-made F-16s, and the cabinet on Wednesday authorised Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki to negotiate the terms of the first payment on the contract, a statement said.
Boillon said that, because of the price tag, the Mirage offer would not affect the F-16 deal.
"This modest price will not affect the purchase of the US F-16s," he said.
"This (Mirage) sale is in the context of a proposal on a comprehensive military air programme that France has submitted to this country," Boillon said.
Iraq's government spokesman said Thursday that Baghdad welcomed any offer.
"Iraq needs to build up its air force and that needs tens of fighters to protect its sovereignty, said Ali-al Dabbagh.
"Any origin of high quality with good offer will be welcomed taking in consideration that we need to unify the source of arming if they fulfill Iraq's requirements," he said, without disclosing the cost of the F-16 deal.
The Iraqi government "has submitted a letter of request for 18 F-16s and packages composed of spare parts, support equipment, weapons, logistics
(Excerpt) Read more at expatica.com ...
For what? Target practice?...?
Great!!! I’m glad that all our blood and money can be well spent...
People make mistakes.
People also get lucky shots.
Serbia shot down an F-117.....
No doubt the Chinese were very happy about it. Komrade Klinton probably thought it a good way to give technology away to his Chinese masters without too much trouble. Any sensible leader would have ordered that area blown to dust a few times over to protect the technology.
Well, we did bomb the Chinese embassy........
The pilot was never heard from again, IIRC........
Accidents happen or it could be just part of the show. I had forgotten about that foreign policy faux pas.
18 USED French aircraft for $1 billion? Hell, you could get 18 NEW F-16s for that price.
No you couldn't
This article is from the French side.
This is what I am seeing:
Iraq sends a negotiating team for 18 Mirage 2000s.
France brings up the old Saddam-era F1 contract that Iraq still owes for 18 undelivered/stored F1s.
And the press reads this as a new issue.
This is about France getting payment for those old F1s still setting in storage since 1990 before they do any deals for more modern birds.
Which explains why the CoM is redirecting the money to 18 more F16s.
CoM already answered no to F1s by authorizing the F16 buy.
Do they come with or without a white flag painted on the tail?
lol. No. These are export versions built in 1990 for Saddam. Been embargoed and in storage every since.
This is about clearing Iraq’s debt - not a valid air defense.
The Iraqi negotiators were sent to negotiate for Mirage 2000s - Apparently the French want the old deal cleared first...
Iraq needs a minimum of 100 fighters. 18 old STRIKE aircraft that Saddam ordered and have been setting in storage since 1990 embargo do not provide air defense.
This is the French trying to get the old debt cleared before negotiating for the Mirage 2000s...
Thoughts on ISF Development and Iraq’s Ability to Defend Itself
http://home.comcast.net/~djyae/site/?/blog/view/84/
Iraqi Aviation Update December 2010
http://home.comcast.net/~djyae/site/?/blog/view/81/
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