Posted on 07/17/2009 4:50:28 PM PDT by SandRat
BAGHDAD — With more than 75 percent of Iraq’s gross domestic product coming from revenues generated by its offshore oil platforms, Iraq has a keen interest in protecting and controlling its territorial waters.
To that end, representatives from the Iraqi Navy met with U.S. military personnel here June 12-14 for discussions on building coastal patrol boats.At this work definition conference, officials agreed on specifications to construct 35-meter patrol boats. The first four of a 15-boat construction program are due for delivery to Iraq by the end of 2010.“These patrol boats will protect Iraq’s offshore oil platforms, which are vital to the recovery of the country’s economy and infrastructure,” said. U.S. Navy Capt. Dan Keller, director, Security Assistance Directorate of the Navy International Programs Office. “With stable oil-export revenues, everything else can grow.”With the Iraqi Navy’s increasing ability to guarantee its sovereignty on its territorial waters, the need for maritime security from coalition naval forces recedes, Keller added. Achieving this status is a key element of the U.S.-Iraq Security Agreement.The 35-meter patrol boat contract is just one part of a larger total program, which also delivers spare parts, guns, ammunition, training, naval simulators and infrastructure within Umm Qasr Naval Base, Iraq. The total program for the Iraqi Navy is the third largest case of foreign military sales, or FMS, to Iraq. The conference, convened at Camp Phoenix in the International Zone of Baghdad, was hosted by the Multi-National Security Transition Command-Iraq. The agenda was hammered out by the U.S. Navy’s Program Executive Office, Ships, which oversees navy-related foreign military sales, or FMS, according to U.S. Navy Cmdr. Darren Glaser, chief, Foreign Military Sales/Navy Programsf for MNSTC-I’s Iraq Security Assistance Mission.
Weak on detail. Wonder what they’ll carry, and where they’ll be built.
Replacement order for the canx Malaysian PB order...
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.