Respectfully, you make it sound like it is cheap and easy to operate three different types from three different foreign suppliers. Which, is hardly the case nor even a desire……It would be a Nightmare in any Major Conflict and would only complicate an already dire and critical situation.

Its something they’ve done since 1937. Basically each type has its own separate “area” within a base (or even a separate “home base”), the chains operate entirely separately for supply and maintenance. But operationally they work together. Works ok. e.g. my uncle was an engineer at Nu’maniya field factory for 10 years during the 1980s. It was called the “western factory” and basically the GCT / M113 / Panhard AML / AMX-10P / Chieftain and similar vehicles were maintained there. He never touched a BTR or BMP or T72 during that period (those were in Tajo and other places). However in the battlefield these vehicles would operate together, and the same ARVs would take them back to field factory. Since Iraq’s “depth of operations” is quite shallow, its very easy to keep centralised separate depots for ammo and parts for all the different types…

for the airforce, each type would have its own “home base” and would be deployed on short stints away from that “central base” to the border areas. Works well in practice.

Iraq’s only chance for modern AAMs in the interim is Russia. Perhaps once the “cat is out of the bag”, the Americans will no longer have a reason not to sell (i.e. avoid the spread of proliferation) and allow the Iraqis the same armaments that their gulf allies receive. If the americans are OK with selling Iraq 120-C7s … then there’ll be nothing stopping europe from offering IRIS-T / METEOR etc… but on what airframe? if by then the Iraqis are fully installed on their SU35 / MiG35s… the europeans will have no chance.

And to think that Dassault doesn’t want to jeopardise potential sales of Rafale to Qatar / Kuwait by offering them to Iraq! I mean how many are Qatar / Kuwait going to buy anyway? and why would sales to Iraq preclude sales to those countries (on the contrary, with Iraq being armed, those GCC states will scramble to buy more!)

I doubt there is a chance to integrate METEOR on F16IQ, not even IRIS-T… I think the computer in the block 52+ Iraqis have won’t even release a weapon that was not “programmed in”… so maybe Iraqis won’t even be able to drop some locally made dumb bomb? let alone integrate AAMs with the radar and weapons computer (and JHMCS)! The US are well aware of the Iraqis past antics with “ba2tardised” systems so they want to nip that in the bud.

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You need someone made of the same clay as Putin. Highly educated, military experience, cold as ice and above all patriot. Find someone like that and in 10 year time all your ME neighbours will s**t bricks! If Saddam had in 1990 over 800 aircraft of all types, 500 helos and 5000 tanks, you surely can again.:)

(actually all the crappy countries of the world- including mine- need someone like Putin…)

yeaa. we need an Iraqi Putin. for now we’re stuck with our “yeltsin” :very_drunk:

Also, uhhh, JSR, are you telling me that the Chinese should produce a JSF-equivalent to cut costs with their aerospace industry? That obviously worked out very well with the Americans.

With the Chinese, honestly speaking, they’re very in-experienced with aircraft and air combat; while the PLA hasn’t seen real action since 1979, 1990 if you count the simmering border war with Vietnam, the PLAAF has never fought an engagement where it was at an advantage and hasn’t really done jack since 1960.

This is why the Chinese have multiple aircraft types, even with similar / overlapping roles. The point is that they don’t know enough about air combat to work with a few consolidated aircraft; all their aircraft provide opportunities for learning experiences on what works and what doesn’t work.

I find it amusing that some people would presume that whilst the chinese have the technical ability to produce 5th generation fighters and manage an enormous airspace… they can’t get a few dozen of their officers to evaluate the combat performance of different nations and organise “lessons learned” based on information either obtained openly or by subterfuge about others’ experiences and distribute this to fighter squadrons and integrate it within their training cycles for combat training and doctrinal improvements.

I’d have thought even small air forces worth their salt would have learned lessons about the relatively small amount of air combat involving modern air forces, and they’d have evaluated thoroughly all their neighbours capabilities, training cycles, tactics etc… let alone a behemoth of an air force like the PLAAF!

not having been involved in modern air combat does not mean that they are no longer “competent”… Israeli air force hasn’t flown many air combats against conventional opponents for 30 years. No one claims that they don’t know how to fight… and certainly their aircraft and their enemies from that time are rather different to today so direct experiences from 1982 from example would hardly apply directly to a future “air war” they may face. But naturally they keep up observing and tracking developments in the world and by their neighbours and train against it and update their doctrine accordingly.

Poor Iraq they got ripped off again,so how much did they pay for each monkey export F16 version? Kind of like Iraq bought the monkey export version of the Mig29 from Soviet Union which is far inferior to the standard Soviet Russian Airforce model of the time Mig29C

and once again a good old fashioned Saddam Hussein like Strong Man Military Dictator that will rule the country with an iron fist lol just kidding :dev2:

story of our life 🙁

what happened to Czech trainer deal?

No news. For now all Iraqi fighter pilots are trained in the US. They did think of buying T50 from Korea instead, but so far nothing… I think its because of the recent “realignment” I am guessing they are trying to find an advanced trainer that is useful both for F16s and any Russian jets… with a secondary attack capability, they may want an aircraft able to carry ordnance without US restrictions…

You also have to consider clock is ticking on Iran sanctions. Depending on pace of Russia procurement and training. Russia will be able to impose its own solution on Iran talks.

Iraq is not seen as a “threat” to Iran by Russia. Iraqis are playing the “neutral” game… whether that game is viable in the long run, is questionable.. but for now Iraqis are content not taking “sides”.

The point is its arms race at full speed. Iraq procurement is too slow and short range weopons. It will lose that short term importance to Iran.

Iran will eventually buy modern armaments… no question about it. Iraq will just need to have a powerful enough military to deter them from making any “thoughts”. For that, once again a powerful air defence system, good interceptors with early warning assets and some long range anti ship missiles are essential.

Russia owns the engine and missile technology to compete in the theater, China doesn’t have proven resources in these fields yet. China is able to provide J-7 and J-8II reliably, that’s about the extent. Russia has the better trainers and simulators plus both Red Flag and Top Gun equivalents. China does have JL-7A, but it’s more or less an Su-24M replacement with anti-ship and precision strike missile capabilities. If Iraq picked up Su-35S it doesn’t need JL-7A. The MiG-35 doesn’t have the range to carry out long range precision strike equivalent to either one, but it’s no slouch.

MiG-35 is the poor man’s Su-35S. Same missiles, less overall payload and range. Regardless of the choice they need a good R73 and R77 supply. If they opt for OVT they have a good display jet for national pride.

Iraq has a much smaller land mass than Algeria, India etc… From a few bases they can cover all of Iraq’s airspace. MiG35 is “enough” for that.

Do they really need Mi-35? Would they be better served with Mi-171 and a light attack helicopter for scouting and escort? They already are getting Apache for heavy work. If they want a squad lift they should go Blackhawks.

They are buying Mi35M for “special forces” assault, Mi28NE and Ah-64 Apache for the army aviation (each “army” having one attack helo squadron). assault transport is all Mi17/171… they have been fitted with protective measures, NVGs and some ATGWs.