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World Defense & Security News - Iraq
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Second batch of F-16 fighter jets has been delivered to Iraqi Air Force
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A second batch of F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter jets reached an Iraqi Air Force (IAF) airbase yesterday, February 2, 2016, the Iraqi Ministry of Defense announced on its website. The aircraft were officially received by the IAF chief Lt. Gen Anwar Hama Amin. The first four F-16IQ Block 52 aircraft arrived at Balad Air Base in July 2015.
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 An IAF F-16D Block 52 fighter aircraft |
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The Iraqi Ministry of Defense in Baghdad did not specify the number of military aircraft arrived in Iraq as part of the delivery process. As reported by the president of the Defence Committee, these new batch should concern five F-16s.
Iraq ordered 36 of the Lockheed Martin airplanes, but initial deliveries were delayed because of security concerns after Islamic State militants overran large areas of of the country last year. Iraq has signed a contract with the US Administration in 2011 for the purchase of 36 aircraft, as part of a strategic agreement between the two countries. Iraq has put its F-16 warplanes into action against the Islamic State group for the first time in September 2015. On Jan. 20, 2016, the country purchased a major batch of weapons and equipment to its F-16 fighters to support the fight against Daesh. |
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