Iraq wants to spend as much as $2.4 billion to buy helicopters, related munitions and associated equipment and services, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) notified Congress July 30.
Bell Helicopter Textron [TXT] or Boeing [BA] would be the principal contractors.
Iraq requested the possible sale of 24 Bell Armed 407 helicopters, or 24 Boeing AH-6 helicopters, 24 Rolls Royce 250-C-30 engines, 565 M120 120mm mortars, 665 M252 81 mm mortars, 200 AGM-114M Hellfire missiles, 24 M299 Hellfire guided missile launchers, 16 M36 Hellfire training missiles, 15,000 2.75-inch rockets, 24 M280 2.75 inch launchers, 24 XM296 .50 cal. Machine guns with 500 round ammunition box, 24 M134 7.62 mini-guns, 81 mm ammunition, 120 mm ammunition, test measurement and diagnostics equipment, spare and repair parts, support equipment, publications and technical data, personnel training and training equipment, government and contractor engineering and logistics personnel services and other logistics support elements.
The proposed sale of the helicopters, missiles and mortar systems would be used to develop new Iraqi air force squadrons and/or wings, and to improve the IAF’s ability to sustain itself in its efforts to bring stability to Iraq.
The proposed sale would not affect the basic military balance in the region.
DSCA said the proposed sale would help improve the security of a friendly country and contribute to U.S. foreign policy and national security.
The potential sale directly support the Iraqi government and serves the interests of the Iraqi people and the United states.
There are no known offset agreements proposed in connection with the potential sale, the agency said.
With the volume and wide range of items and equipment in the proposed sale, levels of U.S. government and contractor technical assistance will be required, but can not be fully defined at this time, DSCA said.