The Iraqi Air Force now officially operates a jet fighter for the first time in over a decade after the first of the 36 Lockheed Martin F-16s it has ordered was officially handed over in a ceremony at the company's Fort Worth facility on 5 June.

Iraq's first F-16, a two-seat F-16D, was fitted with AIM-9 Sidewinder air-to-air missiles, GBU-12 Paveway II laser-guided bombs, and a Sniper targeting pod for the handover ceremony. Source: Lockheed Martin


The Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported that Lockheed Martin is producing one Iraqi F-16 a month and that the first two would be flown to Iraq later in 2014. Reuters said a group of three or four would be ferried to Iraq before the end of the year.

The local newspaper added that four young Iraqi pilots who had been trained in the United States attended the handover ceremony.


http://www.janes.com/article/38836/f...d-over-to-iraq