Iraq may want F-16 fighters for its air force, but it looks like the United States is trying to curb their enthusiasm, and officials are encouraging Baghdad to consider a light attack aircraft instead.
Lt. Gen. Mark Shackelford, military deputy for the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, told reporters last week that the Pentagon was looking at different options for light attack aircraft that could be sold to Iraq, but added that the idea isn't exactly being greeted with enthusiasm in Baghdad. "The Iraqis are less interested in light attack and more interested in F-16s," Shackelford said, according toDefense Daily.
Last year, Iraq formally requested a possible purchase of up to 36 new F-16s, although the U.S. government has yet to approve the sale. Defense Secretary Robert Gates has suggested the possibility of selling Iraq used F-16s, drawing on retired U.S. inventory.
The United States, for its part, believes a light attack fighter designed for counterinsurgency would be best suited for Iraq as well as for Afghanistan (and for some U.S. Air Force missions as well -- Ed.). Still, it's clear Iraq is determined to build up its air power: Baghdad is now seeking the return of Soviet-built fighters sitting in Serbia.
Getting any aircraft to Iraq -- new, used or advanced -- is proving a challenge. The government of Iraq has had difficulties paying for new equipment bought through U.S. foreign military sales, and at the same time it is having to integrate old and donated equipment into its new military. With helicopters from France, the United States and Russia, the Iraqi military is rapidly building one of the world's more diverse air forces, which will likely prove difficult to maintain.
Finally, Iraq is still waiting on22 aircraft brought from Russia through a U.S. foreign military sales contract. So far, none of the aircraft has made it to Iraq.
[Photo: USAF]
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