(NSI News Source Info) BAGHDAD - April 7, 2009: Iraq has signed deals with the United States and Europe to buy dozens of military helicopters that will be delivered over the next two years, the defence ministry spokesman said on Monday. 
The EC 635 is Eurocopter's powerful lightweight twin-engine army helicopter for air-to-air combat and ground support. It is also used as a utility helicopter and for training, search and rescue, and combat search and rescue. The helicopter is an armour-protected and armed version of the proven federal and civil EC 135 helicopter, of which more than 300 have been ordered.
The first EC 635 of an order of nine was delivered to the Royal Jordanian Air Force in July 2003. An order for nine EC 635 helicopters for the Portuguese Army was cancelled in August 2002.
In April 2006, Switzerland ordered 18 EC 635 helicopters for utility and advanced training missions. RUAG Aerospace is licence-building 16 of the helicopters. Europter delivered the first in March 2008, RUAG the third in August 2008. Deliveries are to complete in 2010. Iraq 24 EC 635 are planned for the Iraqi Air Force.
Major General Mohammed al-Askari said the government had placed orders with US and European groups for what he described as ‘dozens’ of helicopters, but declined to give a precise number.
A senior military source, however, told AFP that ‘Iraq has agreed with the United States and European countries to buy more than 40 helicopters.’
‘We will receive all these helicopters in the next two years,’ the source said, noting that the US would supply 30 of the aircraft, mainly to be used in the fight against terrorism.
Last month, French defence minister Herve Morin and his Iraqi counterpart Abdel Kader Obeidi announced the purchase by Baghdad of 24 multi-purpose Eurocopter EC 635 helicopters.
The deal for the transport helicopters, which can carry up to seven soldiers and also engage in reconnaissance and search and rescue missions, is worth 360 million dollars.
They form part of the order mentioned by the Iraqi security source.
In addition, France is preparing to sell to Iraq six Gazelle helicopters to train Iraqi pilots, said a French source close to the deal.
The EC 635 is Eurocopter's powerful lightweight twin-engine army helicopter for air-to-air combat and ground support. It is also used as a utility helicopter and for training, search and rescue, and combat search and rescue. The helicopter is an armour-protected and armed version of the proven federal and civil EC 135 helicopter, of which more than 300 have been ordered.
The first EC 635 of an order of nine was delivered to the Royal Jordanian Air Force in July 2003. An order for nine EC 635 helicopters for the Portuguese Army was cancelled in August 2002.
In April 2006, Switzerland ordered 18 EC 635 helicopters for utility and advanced training missions. RUAG Aerospace is licence-building 16 of the helicopters. Europter delivered the first in March 2008, RUAG the third in August 2008. Deliveries are to complete in 2010. Iraq 24 EC 635 are planned for the Iraqi Air Force.
Major General Mohammed al-Askari said the government had placed orders with US and European groups for what he described as ‘dozens’ of helicopters, but declined to give a precise number.
A senior military source, however, told AFP that ‘Iraq has agreed with the United States and European countries to buy more than 40 helicopters.’
‘We will receive all these helicopters in the next two years,’ the source said, noting that the US would supply 30 of the aircraft, mainly to be used in the fight against terrorism.
Last month, French defence minister Herve Morin and his Iraqi counterpart Abdel Kader Obeidi announced the purchase by Baghdad of 24 multi-purpose Eurocopter EC 635 helicopters.
The deal for the transport helicopters, which can carry up to seven soldiers and also engage in reconnaissance and search and rescue missions, is worth 360 million dollars.
They form part of the order mentioned by the Iraqi security source.
In addition, France is preparing to sell to Iraq six Gazelle helicopters to train Iraqi pilots, said a French source close to the deal.
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