Two more patrol boats for Iraqi navy

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UMM QASR, Iraq, March 22 (UPI) -- The Iraqi navy is one vessel short of completing its procurement of patrol boats from the United States for use in the northern Persian Gulf.

The U.S. Navy reports that it has delivered the 10th and 11th vessels from Swiftships Shipbuilders LLC to Iraq's Umm Qasr naval facility.

"Our navy shipbuilding team has again succeeded in working closely with their Iraqi counterparts to deliver these important assets to the Iraqi navy," said Frank McCarthey, Program Executive Office Ships' program manager for Support Ships, Boats and Craft.

"Together with the nine patrol boats previously delivered, these two new vessels are a significant step toward meeting Iraq's security requirements ..."

The boats are about 115 feet in length, can reach a speed of 35 knots and are armed with a 30mm gun system.

The vessels were procured through the U.S. Foreign Military Sales program.

The Navy said the final vessel ordered will be delivered to Iraq this year.