Posted on 07/12/2010 9:53:43 AM PDT by DJ Elliott
As reported in June 2010, the Iraqi Army is getting significant amounts of used US Army equipment through the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) process for Excess Defense Articles (EDA). This equipment includes:
1026 - M113 Family of Vehicles, 120 - M198 towed howitzers, 21 - M88A1 armored recovery vehicles, 60 - M1070s heavy equipment transporters, 24 - M109A5 self propelled howitzers, 30 - Fuel tankers, Equipment for a strategic bridge company.
The BTR-4 order mix has also been clarified and the number of command and staff vehicles in that order indicates at least 2 divisions are planned for this 1st of 5 Ukrainian orders. Alternatively, these vehicles could be used for Corps’ Troops - providing field headquarters, security and reconnaissance vehicles for the 4-5 planned corps HQs. This initial order starts delivery in October and is to be completed by 2014:
270 BTR-4 APCs, 80 BTR-4K Command Vehicles, 30 BTR-4Ksh Staff Vehicles, 30 BSEM-4K Ambulances, 10 BREM-4K Repair and Recovery Vehicles.
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FYI
My personnal read is that the M113s represent components for 3 mech Divs (+) and the BTR4s are part of 2 more Mech Divs [1 in line but 2 in command vehicles]. Existing other APCs are enough for a 6th heavy div.
The shortage is tanks and support.
The ordered/optioned 280 M1A1s only equip 1 Mech Div + a ACR [56th Bde].
The existing T72s/T55s equip a second Mech Div.
That means they need to order another 800 tanks to pair off with existing and inbound APCs. My bet is they will continue to order 140 M1A1s every 2 years and will add Oplot/Yatagan tanks from the Ukraine in the alternate years.
They appear to be concentrating on APCs first.
Note: Only half of the 6,000 M113s being retired are accounted for so far. We only started this final phase out in 2008. More may end up in Iraq/Afghan/etc. Giving them away is cheaper than scrapping with EPAs rules. Being replaced with Bradleys in combat roles and Strykers in support roles.
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