Business
Iraq PM Confirms $4 Bln Arms Deal with Russia
Mi-28 attack helicopter
© RIA Novosti. Sergey VenyavskyPantsir-S1 air defense system
© RIA Novosti. Sergey SubbotinMOSCOW, October 9 (RIA Novosti)
Related News
- Libya, Iraq Want to Buy Russian Arms - Rogozin
- Russia to offset loss of Iran arms sales with Iraqi, Afghan deals
- Russia denies US reports of slip in Iraq helicopter deal
- Russia to deliver 22 Mi-171 helicopters to Iraq
Multimedia
Russia will deliver attack helicopters and mobile air-defense systems to Iraq in arms deals worth $4.2 billion signed earlier this year, it was disclosed today during a visit to Moscow by Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki in which he met his counterpart Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev.
Moscow will supply 30 Mil Mi-28NE night/all-weather capable attack helicopters, and 50 Pantsir-S1 gun-missile short-range air defense systems. The contracts, among the biggest ever signed between Iraq and Russia, were signed in April, July and August by Iraq's acting defense minister, according to documents released on Tuesday during al-Maliki's visit.
Vedomosti daily said the deal was Russia's largest arms deal since 2006.
Arms industry analyst Ruslan Pukhov of the Center for Analysis of Strategy and Technologies, a Moscow-based think tank, said the deal showed Baghdad's desire to break Washington's monopoly of arms supplies to the new government there.
"It's clear that America's influence on Iraq has been excessive. The Shiite government of this country is starting to conduct itself more independently of Washington, and more looking toward Iran," he said.
Pukhov also attributed Russia's success in winning the contracts to the efforts of former Military-Technical Cooperation Service head Mikhail Dmitriyev, who had previously insisted "we must continue to work with Iraq."
Russia recently lost another arms deal tender to supply the Mi-28EN to India, which was won by America's Boeing AH-64 Apache. Iraq has previously signed arms deals with the United States for second-hand Lockheed F-16 fighter jets and other equipment.
Maliki is traveling with Iraq's oil and trade minister as well as the chief of its investment commission, Al Arabiya reported. Earlier this year, Russia's Lukoil won a $100 million exploration contract in Iraq and is developing the huge West Qurna oilfield there.
Mi-28N Night Hunter: The main attack helicopter of the Russian Air Force
Add to blog
You may place this material on your blog by copying the link.
Publication code:
Preview:
Send by e-mail
Leave a comment
- ruypenalvaWill Iraq pay?18:54, 09/10/2012The risk is another instability in Iraq and a new default.
- Michael JohnathenOf course Iraq will pay.22:38, 09/10/2012Soviet Debts are a thing of the past, Iraq as it gets closer to Iran is becoming a key ally in the region to Russia.
I don't think my leaders had any idea what they were doing when they killed Saddam, they only strengthen Russia's bloc in the region.
Most read
Top multimedia
Image Galleries: ‘Hostages’ Released in Russian-Belarusian Military Drills
Video: Hard-Hitting Weaponry at Russia Arms Expo-2013
Infographics: Mascots of the 2014 Winter Olympic Games
Cartoons: Snowden, will you marry me?