Iraq approved for $1.9B F-16 weapons/munitions buy

WASHINGTON, Jan. 21 (UPI) -- Iraq has been given U.S. State Department approval to buy weapons, munitions and equipment for F-16 fighters under the U.S. Foreign Military Sales program.

The possible sale worth $1.95 billion was reported to Congress by the Defense Security Cooperation Agency, which manages the FMS program.

"Iraq requires these additional weapons, munitions, and technical services to maintain the operational capabilities of its aircraft," DSCA said. "This proposed sale enables Iraq to fully maintain and employ its aircraft and sustain pilot training to effectively protect Iraq from current and future threats."

Iraq had previously purchased 36 Fighting Falcons through the FMS program.

Iraq's purchase of major items for the planes includes 24 each AIM-9M Sidewinder missiles; 150 each AGM-65D/G/H/K Maverick missiles; and 14,120 each 500-lb General Purpose bomb bodies/warheads for use either as unguided or guided bombs.

Depending on asset availability during the exercise of a contract, the 500-pound bombs would be a mix of MK-82 500-lb warheads and/or BLU-111 500-lb warheads from stock and/or new contract procurement.

Other major items include 2,400 each of 2,000-lb GP bomb body/warheads for use either as unguided or guided bombs; 8,000 each Laser Guided Bomb Paveway II tail kits and 250 each LGB Paveway II tail kits.

DSCA said spare and repair parts, publications, technical documents, weapons components, support equipment, personnel training, training equipment and logistics support would be part of the package.

Various Lockheed Martin divisions, Raytheon Company, The Marvin Group, United Technologies Aerospace Systems, the Royal Jordanian Air Academy, Pratt and Whitney, and Michael Baker International would be contractors for the deal.