Posted on 10/11/2012 8:31:02 AM PDT by klpt
In October 2012, Iraqi Prime Minister Maliki signed a deal with Russia’s Rosoboronexport, variously estimated at $4.2 – $5.0 billion. The deal is characteristically murky, but is reported to include 30 Mi-28NE attack helicopters, and 42-50 mobile SA-22 Pantsir low-level air defense systems. Their combined cost is unlikely to approach $4 billion, unless very extensive long-term support arrangements are included. There has also been discussion in the press concerning MiG-29M2 fighters or armored vehicles as follow-on options.
The deal does fill some important military and political holes for Iraq. Even with a signed contract, however, completing the deal won’t be as easy as it was back in Saddam Hussein’s day.
(Excerpt) Read more at defenseindustrydaily.com ...
It’s what we fought and died for...
I imagine that the Russians make sex vacations, bribes and kickbacks a key part of any offer. Overall, the stuff is also probably offered at big discounts to US systems.
Doin' anything just to get you outta my mind.."
Read it again. and look up what those are.
US refused to sell Apache to Iraq so they bought the closest thing to it that Russia had.
As to Pantsir-S1 - junk. Easily jammed command guided missiles. Sounds good and officially supposed to be the short-range cover for SA20. Since US will not sell Patriot to Iraq, looks like they are going with SA20...
And the pricetag is 3-4x more than it should be for what was announced...
So am I. Bought a Mosin-Nagant.
Reality 101.
5 countries in the world build most of the military weapons.
When it comes to combat aircraft and missiles, 87% are built by those 5 countries.
US is number 1.
But the US wouldn’t sell Iraq what they wanted.
Russia is number 2.
Where did they go?
Of note: China is 3, France is 4, and UK is 5.
Most countries in that region buy from multiple sources.
Iraq has been buying most from the US.
This is Iraq’s first direct buy from Russia since the collapse of the USSR 2 decades ago...
US does not have a monopoly and if we tell some country we are not selling a type of weapon to them, they will go elsewhere.
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