F-16 Fighting Falcon News

December 14, 2011 (by Asif Shamim) - The Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress of a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Iraq for a further batch of 18 F-16IQ aircraft and associated equipment, parts, weapons, training and logistical support for an estimated cost of $2.3 billion.
The Government of Iraq has requested a possible sale of:

• 18 F-16IQ aircraft,
• 24 F100PW-229 or F110-GE-129 Increased Performance Engines,
• 120 LAU-129/A Common Rail Launchers,
• 24 APG-68(V)9 radar sets,
• 19 M61 20mm Vulcan Cannons,
• 100 AIM-9L/M-8/9 Sidewinder Missiles,
• 150 AIM-7M-F1/H SPARROW Missiles,
• 50 AGM-65D/G/H/K Maverick Air to Ground Missiles,
• 200 GBU-12 PAVEWAY II Laser Guided Bomb Units (500 pound),
• 50 GBU-10 PAVEWAY II Laser Guided Bomb Units (2000 pound),
• 50 GBU-24 PAVEWAY III Laser Guided Bomb Units (2000 pound),
• 22 ALQ-211 Advanced Integrated Defensive Electronic Warfare Suites (AIDEWS), or Advanced Countermeasures Electronic System (ACES) (ACES includes the ALQ-187 Electronic Warfare System and AN/ALR-93 Radar Warning Receiver),
• 20 AN/APX-113 Advanced Identification Friend or Foe (AIFF) Systems (without Mode IV),
• 20 Global Positioning Systems (GPS) and Embedded GPS/ Inertial Navigation Systems (INS), (Standard Positioning Service (SPS) commercial code only),
• 20 AN/AAQ-33 SNIPER or AN/AAQ-28 LITENING Targeting Pods,
• 4 F-9120 Advanced Airborne Reconnaissance Systems (AARS) or DB-110 Reconnaissance Pods (RECCE),
• 22 AN/ALE-47 Countermeasures Dispensing Systems (CMDS),
• 20 Conformal Fuel Tanks (pairs),
• 120 Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing Systems (JHMCS),
• 20 AN/ARC-238 Single Channel Ground and Airborne Radio Systems,
• 10,000 PGU-27A/B Ammunition,
• 30,000 PGU-28 Ammunition,
• 230 MK-84 2000 lb General Purpose Bombs,
• and 800 MK-82 500lb General Purpose Bombs.

Also included: LAU-117 Maverick Launchers, site survey support equipment, Joint Mission Planning System, Ground Based Flight Simulator, tanker support, ferry services, Cartridge Actuated Devices/Propellant Actuated Devices (CAD/PAD), repair and return, modification kits, spares and repair parts, construction, publications and technical documentation, personnel training and training equipment, U.S. Government and contractor technical, engineering, and logistics support services, ground based flight simulator, and other related elements of logistics support. The estimated cost is $2.3 billion.

The proposed sale will allow the Iraqi Air Force to modernize its air force by acquiring western interoperable fighter aircraft, thereby enabling Iraq to support both its own air defense needs and coalition operations. The country will have no difficulty absorbing these aircraft into its armed forces.

The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not alter the basic military balance in the region.

The principal contractors will be:

• BAE Advanced Systems Greenlawn, New York
• Boeing Corporation Seattle, Washington
• Boeing Integrated Defense Systems St Louis, Missouri (three locations) Long Beach, California - San Diego, California
• Raytheon Company Lexington, Massachusetts
  (two locations) Goleta, California
• Raytheon Missile Systems Tucson, Arizona
• Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company Fort Worth, Texas
• Lockheed Martin Missile and Fire Control Dallas, Texas
• Lockheed Martin Simulation, Training and Support Fort Worth, Texas
• Northrop-Grumman Electro-Optical Systems Garland, Texas
• Northrop-Grumman Electronic Systems Baltimore, Maryland
• Pratt & Whitney United Technology Company East Hartford, Connecticut
• General Electric Aircraft Engines Cincinnati, Ohio
• Goodrich ISR Systems Danbury, Connecticut
• L3 Communications Arlington, Texas
• ITT Defense Electronics and Services McLean, Virginia
• Symetrics Industries Melbourne, Florida

Implementation of this proposed sale will require multiple trips to Iraq involving U.S. Government and contractor representatives for technical reviews/support, program management, and training over a period of 15 years.