Iraq has signed a contract with Pakistani company to purchase an unspecified number of aircraft, believed to be JF-17 Block III.
According to the sources quoted by the media, the defence deal was approved by both the Iraqi and Pakistani governments and a formal agreement is expected to be signed in Islamabad next month. The Iraqi government has approved the amount of 664 million USD for the purchase of 12 fighter aircraft from Pakistan.
The announcement of the contract preceded intense negotiations between both sides during 2020 and 2021.
Lieutenant General Juma Inad had earlier visited Pakistan in May 2021 during which he held meetings with Pakistani officials and discussed Iraq’s interest to buy JF-17 Thunder fighter jets.
Problems with Iraq’s F-16IQ jets
Iraq has been having significant problems maintaining its Iraq has 34 F-16IQ Block 52 fighters obtained from the U.S. Following Washington’s pull-out from Iraq, the jets have had a much lower level of maintenance than required. Some 20 aircraft are in a fly-worthy condition that too lacking in certain crucial armaments such air-to-air and air-to-ground weapons.
The JF-17 Block III jets, which are the latest iteration of the successful JF-17 could be a welcome addition to the Iraqi Air Force.