Iraqi Navy to Receive Saddam-Era Corvettes from Italian Firm
By AMI INTERNATIONAL INC.
Two Assad-class corvettes built for Iraq in the 1980s will be released to the Iraqi Navy by Italy. Although the delivery date for the corvettes has not been determined, Italy agreed to begin training the Iraqi crews in order to transfer the ships.
The two Assad-class corvettes are the remnants of a six-ship deal between former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein and Fincantieri SpA in 1981. After all six units were built, however, they could not be delivered to the Iraqi Navy due to United Nations sanctions on Iraq for its war against Iran.
The first four units of the class were sold to Malaysia, two in 1995 and two in 1996. The remaining two units were maintained at Fincantieri until present. Negotiations between the new Iraqi government and Italy began in 2004. The new agreement was reached in March.
The Iraqi Navy took delivery of five Taiwanese-built 28-meter patrol boats in the first quarter of 2004, followed by six Iraqi-built Al Uboor-class patrol craft in 2005.
http://www.navyleague.org/sea_power/jun_05_66.php
Sign In
