Sales To Iraq

The Defense Security Cooperation Agency announced this week it had notified Congress of a trio of proposed foreign military sales to Iraq for helicopters, Stryker vehicles and "Multi-Platform Maintenance" worth nearly $2 billion.

On the proposed $300 million sale of 12 Bell 412 EP helicopters and associated equipment, DSCA said:

This proposed sale will contribute to the foreign policy and national security of the United States by helping to improve the security of a strategic partner. This proposed sale directly supports the Iraq government and serves the interests of the Iraqi people and the U.S.

This proposed sale will contribute to Iraq’s stability and sovereignty by providing a critical component to building its Air Force and achieving air sovereignty. This equipment will provide the Iraqi Air Force with a search and rescue capability critical to developing a mature Air Force.

On the proposed $900 million sale of 50 M1135 Stryker Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical Reconnaissance Vehicles and associated equipment, DSCA said:

This proposed sale will contribute to the foreign policy and national security of the United States by helping to improve the security of a strategic partner. This proposed sale will contribute to Iraq’s stability and sovereignty by increasing its situational awareness and ability to identify potential Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) agents. This proposed sale directly supports the Iraqi government and serves the interests of the Iraqi people and the United States.

This equipment provides the Iraqi Army CBRN reconnaissance units with reliable capabilities for early warning of contamination by radiological, biological, and chemical material. Overall, these systems meet the requirements of providing the Iraqi Army with the ability to conduct CBRN reconnaissance techniques of search, survey, surveillance, and sampling to reduce the effects of exposure to these hazardous agents.

And here's what DSCA said about the proposed $750 million "Multi-Platform Maintenance" sale:

The Government of Iraq has requested a possible sale to provide for a five year follow-on maintenance support for the M88A1 Recovery Vehicle, M88A2 Hercules, M113 Family of Vehicles, M109A5 Howitzers, M198 Howitzers, M1070 Heavy Equipment Trailer and Truck (HETT), M977 Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Truck (HEMTT), High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV), and the Tactical Floating River Bridge System (TFRBS) Including, spare and repair parts, support equipment, publications and technical data, personnel training and training equipment, site surveys, Quality Assurance Teams, U.S. Government and contractor technical assistance, and other related elements of program and logistics support.