F-16 Fighting Falcon News

September 23, 2010 (by Asif Shamim) - The Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) notified Congress on September 13 of a possible Foreign Military Sale to Iraq of 18 F-16IQ Aircraft as well as associated equipment and services.
The total value, if all options are exercised, could be as high as $4.2 billion.

The Government of Iraq has requested a possible sale of the following:

• 4 F100-PW-229 or F110-GE-129 Increased Performance Engines
• 36 LAU-129/A Common Rail Launchers
• 24 APG-68(V)9 radar sets
• 19 M61 20mm Vulcan Cannons
• 200 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 Advanced Countermeasures Electronic Systems (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).

Also included: site survey, support equipment, 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 $4.2 billion.

The proposed aircraft and accompanying weapon systems will greatly enhance Iraq’s interoperability with the U.S. and other NATO nations.

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 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.