Bientôt des avions Rafale pour la force aérienne irakienne?
On November 4, the Iraqi Minister of Defense, Juma Enad Saadoun,
was welcomed at the air base [BA] 113 of Saint-Dizier by General Philippe Lavigne, the chief of staff of the Air Force. & Space [CEMAAE].
On this occasion, the 2/4 La Fayette fighter squadron as well as the 15.004 “Haute-Marne” aeronautical technical support squadron and the 05.0950 “Barrois” ground-to-air defense squadron were presented to him. And Mr. Saadoun was also entitled to an explanatory session aboard a Rafale cockpit and a presentation of the SAMP / T “Mamba” air defense system.
It should be noted that the Iraqi air force and air defense commanders were also on the trip, unlike the Minister of the Armed Forces, Florence Parly. Which would then have seemed curious if she had not received the Iraqi delegation the next day, at the Hôtel de Brienne.
However, the French minister went to Baghdad in August. And if the focus of his visit had been on the fight against the Islamic State [IS or Daesh], it was also a question of deepening Franco-Iraqi cooperation "in the field of defense and armament, including in the areas that could allow Iraq to strengthen its means of surveillance, on the ground as in its airspace. Hence, no doubt, the displacement of the Iraqi delegation to Saint-Dizier.
Because, back in Iraq, and in a
video published by the Iraqi Ministry of Defense [and until then gone unnoticed here], Juma Enad Saadoun explained that his trip to France had for “the sole objective of strengthening the capacities of the Iraqi army with the latest equipment ”. And to specify that Baghdad intended to procure Rafale [without specifying the number] and that a decision on this subject had to be confirmed during a Council of Ministers.
What is it now? On the eve of the Iraqi army's centenary, on January 6, the French Ambassador to Iraq, Bruno Aubert,
told Juma Enad Saadoun that Paris was standing alongside Baghdad for "strengthening its military capabilities", recalling the "long history" between the two countries.
Then, in an interview with Al Iraqiya state television on January 6 [the video, broadcast by the Iraqi Defense Ministry, was spotted by the author of the blog “Mars Attack”], Mr. Saadoun confirmed Baghdad's interest in the Rafale. Better: a contract would be about to be signed. "We are now discussing the financial aspects," he is said to have said.
However, the Iraqi air force is already equipped with 34 F-16IQ Block 52 fighter-bombers, acquired under a contract signed in 2011 [36 aircraft had been ordered… but two have since been lost, note].
Recently, the Iraqi Oil Report published several articles revealing that the Iraqi F-16 fleet, once engaged in operations in Syria against Daesh, was in critical condition due to lack of maintenance. And this, because of the deterioration of relations between Baghdad and Washington. In addition, the publication claimed that the Iraqi planes
had been withdrawn from the air operations of the anti-jihadist coalition led by the United States, because of an availability problem.
However, for the centenary of the Iraqi army, 23 F-16IQs took part in the flypast organized for the occasion… Which seemed to cringe the claims of the Iraqi Oil Report. But at least in appearance. According to the Scramble site, these 23 aircraft are not actually all combat-ready ... given that their radars and avionics are not functioning properly. "By Western standards, these planes would not have been allowed to fly,"
says the publication . As for the 11 others, they would serve as spare parts tanks.
“This is due to budgetary concerns, logistical problems, reduced support from contractors to maintain the F-16s [due to the poor security situation in Iraq] and less trained pilots. The Iraqi Ministry of Defense of Iraq is working hard to improve this situation, ”says Scramble.
As for the Rafale, Greece should soon sign a contract for 18 units, including 12 used and 6 new. Croatia could also retain the fighter-bomber from Dassault Aviation, which is also competing in tenders in Switzerland and Finland. Finally, Indonesia is also on the verge of confirming the acquisition of around thirty copies, according to Ms. Parly. And that's without counting on the new orders that India and Egypt are likely to place.
