Contending with violence at home, Iraq is working to modernize its military with U.S. help as the Pentagon this week officially notified Congress of two potential foreign military sales (FMS) together valued at about $6.2 billion for the newest Apache attack helicopter, the AH-64E, as well as support for the lease of more of the rotorcraft for training.
The Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) notified Congress Jan. 27 of a potential $4.8 billion sale of 24 AH-64E helicopters, associated equipment and support and separately, a $1.37 billion FMS to support the lease of six Apaches, training and support.
The notification came on the heels of Congress dropping objections to such a plan. The sales were strongly supported by the Obama administration but had been held up for months principally by the Senate Foreign Relations Democratic Chairman Robert Menendez (N.J.) concerned that the helicopters would be used by Iraq’s government not only to attack insurgents, but enemies of the regime. Others were concerned insurgents would shoot down or get their hands on one of the sophisticated aircraft and use it for their own purposes.
Working with the United States, Iraq has been upgrading and modernizing its former Soviet-era equipment, training and associated support. Since the sales involve new systems for Iraq, much contractor effort will be required.
In its congressional notification, DSCA said the sale of 24 Apaches would “support Iraq’s efforts to establish a fleet of multi-mission attack helicopters able to conduct close air support, armed reconnaissance and anti-tank warfare missions.”
The request also calls for 480 AGM-114R Hellfire missiles and 60 Hellfire missile launchers.
Earlier in January, DSCA notified Congress of a potential $82 million FMS to Iraq for 500 AGM-114K/R Hellfire missiles from contractor Lockheed Martin
[LMT].
The prime contractors for the Apache sale will be Boeing [BA], Lockheed Martin, General Electric [GE], Longbow LLC (A joint venture of Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman [NOC]); and Raytheon [RTN].
The sale would require 200 contractor representatives to support delivery of the new helicopters and familiarization. The U.S. government would assign three representatives.
In addition, DSCA said Iraq has expressed an interest in a Technical Assistance Fielding Team for pilot and maintenance training. That would require one military team leader and 11 contractors to be deployed to Iraq for about three years. This program would require multiple trips involving U.S. personnel to participate in program and technical reviews, training and installation. None of this is unusual in setting up a new program.
The proposed FMS Apache lease support effort would allow Iraqi Security Forces to begin training on the operation and maintenance of six leased U.S. Apache helicopters in preparation of their receipt of new-build aircraft.
The principal contractors for the lease support would be Boeing, Lockheed Martin, General Electric, and Robertson Fuel Systems, LLC.
Supporting the contract would require: one U.S. government and 67 contractor representatives to travel to Iraq as needed.
Additionally, the Pentagon Jan. 17 said it was readying small arms and ammunition for Iraq at the request of its prime minister.
Since the United States removed forces from Iraq in 2011, there have been a growing number of suicide attacks, thousands of civilian deaths and intensified fighting in Anbar province and the cities of Fallujah and Ramadi.
The increasing support for Iraq to modernize forces and beat back violence also was shown in DSCA notifications in 2013.
For example, in February 2013, DSCA notified Congress of a potential $600 million FMS for 130 Rapiscan system vehicles of two different types and 70 American Science and Engineering brand Z Backscatter Vans, associated training and support. DSCA said the potential sale would increase Iraq’s ability to defend critical infrastructure and reduce terror and insurgent activities. The Z Backscatter vans would be used to scan vehicle interiors and will provide Iraq a tool to restrict the ability of insurgent and terrorist groups to operate by detecting contraband movement through borders and checkpoints.
The prime contractors would be Rapiscan Systems [OSIS] and American Science and Engineering. The work would require 45 government and contractor representatives to go to Iraq for three years.
In August 2013, DSCA notified Congress Iraq wanted $339 million in a potential FMS sale of Mobile Troposcatter Radio Systems to improve military situational awareness and command and control from its National Military Headquarters to major subordinate commands. Raytheon would be the contractor.
In a major $2.4 billion potential FMS, also in August, DSCA reported a potential sale of an integrated air defense system and associated equipment, parts training and logistics. The sale would include equipment such as Avengers, Stinger missiles, Sentinel radars, Hawk batteries and missiles.
This sale would allow Iraq to contribute to regional air defenses and reduce its vulnerability to air attacks, and increase interoperability with the United States and other allies.
Principal contractors would be Lockheed Martin, Thales Raytheon Systems, Boeing and American General, Letterkenny Army Depot, Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems, Northrop Grumman and Kratos Defense and Aerospace.
In July, a potential $750 million FMS would provide five years of training, equipment, and logistics for ground force vehicles, heavy trucks, a bridge system and howitzers. This sale would allow Iraq to maintain and use equipment it has bought or received from the United States over the past decade.
Also in July, DSCA notified Congress of a $300 million potential FMS to Iraq as for the potential sale of 12 Bell 412EP helicopters, equipment and support. This equipment would provide the Iraqi air force with a search and rescue capability that DSCA said was “critical” to developing a mature service. Bell Helicopter Textron [TXT] would be the prime contractor. About 20 U.S. government and contractor representatives would be needed to go to Iraq for as long as three years.
A further DSCA congressional notification in July 2013 was for an estimated $900 million FMS for 50 M1135 Stryker Nuclear, Biological and Chemical Reconnaissance vehicles, equipment and support. The vehicles would aid Iraq by increasing its situational awareness and ability to identify potential CBRN agents. The principal contractors involved are General Dynamics [GD] Land Systems, Germany’s Karcher Futuretech, Finmeccanica’s DRS Technologies, Smiths Detection; and Federal Resources. For this work, about 35 government or contractor representatives would have to go to Iraq for as long as two years.