The Iraqi Air Force would like to acquire F-16C/D Block 52+ Vipers.
Posted on 04/10/2010 10:12:55 PM PDT by myknowledge
Rumors that Iraq has made its official request. (April 6/10)
Iraq’s military has made significant strides in recent months, and the country is beginning to order more advanced military equipment to match. A slew of 2008 requests would spend over $10 billion to buy advanced armored vehicles, strengthen its national military supply chain, build new bases and infrastructure for its army, and even buy advanced scout helicopters.
Anxious to complete its transformation and stand fully on its own, Iraq is pushing to begin flying its own fighters within the next couple of years – and is looking to buy American F-16s, rather than the Soviet and French fighters that made up Saddam’s air force. Recent statements from Lockheed Martin say that Iraq’s F-16 buy will be delayed – and recent Arabic reports indicate what the gap-filler might be…
(Excerpt) Read more at defenseindustrydaily.com ...
The Iraqi Air Force would like to acquire F-16C/D Block 52+ Vipers.
We already export these to ME countries.
The USAF is replacing theirs with F35 rather than going with upgraded versions.
F16 is the most widely exported fighter we build.
It was the low end of a high-low mix fielded in 70s/80s.
It is being phased out of US service.
The comparison to the F14 sale is incorrect.
That was still a first line aircraft at the time of the sale to the Shah and the last F14 squadron in US service did not decom until 3 years ago...
Add UAE to your list.
We are already exporting the best of the F16 varients to ME countries.
The USAF considers the F16 to be obsolete and is retiring early 134 this year...
By the way, are you aware that the best version of F16 out there was developed for the UAE with their funds? We do not fly those versions. We are out of the F16 purchasing.
When we sold F14s to the Shah, it was just being fielded.
The F16 was built to be the export fighter from the begining and is being phased out of US service...
I had gone to the Dallas / Fort Worth area many times in support of a proposal for the UAE System. There are a few other countries with upgraded varients of our aircraft that we do not use either.
Sounds like an excellent idea. Good bidness.
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