Pakistan and Iraq have signed a significant defence agreement in Baghdad aimed at enhancing defence cooperation. Under this agreement, Pakistan will provide twelve MFI-Mushaq trainer aircraft and twelve JF-Thunder Block III fighter jets to the Iraqi Air Force.
Reliable sources within the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) informed The Nation that the agreement for this $1.8 billion deal was reached during discussions between Pakistan Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Babar and his counterpart in the Iraqi Ministry of Defense.
Representing the Iraqi side in the negotiations were Lt. Gen. Ahmed Dawood, Secretary General of Defense at the Iraqi Ministry of Defense, and Lt. Gen. Shahab Jahid Ali, also from the Iraqi Ministry of Defense.
This marks the second supply of Mushaq Trainer aircraft to Iraq by the PAF. Pakistan had previously provided 12 Mushaq aircraft to Iraq in 2023, and following their successful integration into the Iraqi forces, the Iraqi Defense Ministry expressed interest in acquiring additional aircraft from Pakistan.
Following the provision of 12 more Mushaq trainer aircraft to Iraq, Pakistan will supply twelve JF-Thunder Block III fighter jets, with technical details currently being finalized.
Iraq will become the fourth country to acquire JF-Thunder aircraft from Pakistan. Previously, the Pakistan Air Force had supplied these aircraft to Nigeria and Myanmar, with an agreement already in place for Azerbaijan to purchase them from PAF.
During discussions at the Iraqi Defense Ministry, Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Babar briefed Iraqi defence officials on the technical specifications and performance of the JF-Thunder aircraft. Iraqi defence officials are expected to visit Pakistan soon to personally inspect the manufacturing process of these aircraft at PAC Kamra.
May 12, 2024
Source: The Nation