The New Iraqi Airforce

Indianfighter said:

The new Iraqi Airforce can also purchase the Dhruv military helicopter from India. It will immediately give it a quantum leap in helicopters as compared to many airforces in the world, as the Dhruv is a very competent helicopter in the 5.5 ton category. It is similar to Eurocopter models in that category.

Also, Iraqi Airforce can purchase used MiGs from India, ranging from MiG-21s to MiG-27s.

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I agree with the Dhruv part. It would be cheap and the US would be happy, but the Iraqis are familiar with Russian stuff. I think Mi-17s are going over there for heavy stuff. Tank-wise, Iraq is has shown interest in the Al-Khalid. It uses some Ukrainian systems, so they would be familiar with some stuff, not much, but some. Also it works in the desert. The Iraqi government has also shown interest in the Al-Tahla for the APC. Basically a cheap, improved version of the M-113. But the Air Force doesn't want flying coffins! They're going with MiG-29s and F-16s!

I think there's a good chance of Iraq getting FC-1s, though J-10s may be a while.

Also, Iraq's government isn't a puppet. Our puppet got kicked out and we're not going to back up the claims by removing a legally-elected leader. The current leader is Shiite and not exactly moderate. As I recall his party includes leaders of the Badr Corps, a Shiite militia. We have put far more support into the Kurds than Shiites. We were helping the Kurds a lot, when the Shiites rebelled we didn't so much as grunt and let Saddam massacre them.

We have no real love for the Shiites and, in truth, no one in Iraq has an real love for us. More like they acknowledge us as a necessary evil and we them. Regardless of what the military brass in the Pentagon want, Bush isn't a war-mongerer and doesn't agree with all this strategic positioning. However, we can't leave and we have to work with whatever government the people chose.

I think there's a good chance of Iraq getting FC-1s, though J-10s may be a while.

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No way. Chinese government won't sell weapons that advanced to Iraq. At least not before America completely withdraws its forces. China will never ever reveal their most recent and advanced weapons to America, or they would be giving their secret away, and selling weapons to Iraq now will only allow America access to them.:china: :nana:

playbuddy is right. sellling our stuff to iraq is really selling it the US for they still have effective control over the nation. also selling it to them now and letting them use it will really give the US a chance to shoot the J-10's down and even capture them and then they will see our technology first hand. best leave it to later and give them less advanced stuff for the may have put pawns in the gov or left some spies hanging around.

MIGleader said:

Why on earth would Iraq want to purchase stuff from india? you realize all the weapons must be new, so why would anyone want to buy second hand Migs? Iraq is preparing for the 21st century, thus will lay hands on at least mig-29s, not older.

Dhruv might have a chance if the Iraqi army is interested in helicopters.

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Well India might sell LCA if it comes into production soon and the Indian governments wants to export them...

I think there's a good chance of Iraq getting FC-1s, though J-10s may be a while.

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FC-1 might have a good chance once China develops an engine for it, for the time bring Russia will probably not let them export it; and you know Russia will be dying to get a market in Iraq.
J-10...
Just sell them the airframe :roll:

"Our puppet got kicked out and we're not going to back up the claims by removing a legally-elected leader."

The US has done it before (Iran comes to mind), and it'll do it again.

PLABUDDY

No way. Chinese government won't sell weapons that advanced to Iraq.

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FC-1 isn't that advanced and we'll have plenty of access to that technology when it's transferred to Pakistan.

At least not before America completely withdraws its forces.

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That's why I mentioned J-10. When we're not there anymore, or have far less influence over the goings-on, China can feel secure in selling the J-10A. By that time they'll probably have work on J-10C and J-12 started.

China will never ever reveal their most recent and advanced weapons to America, or they would be giving their secret away, and selling weapons to Iraq now will only allow America access to them.

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So would selling weapons to Pakistan. Remember the U.S. trained with Kuwaiti artillery forces using the PLZ-45. We have done excercises with India using Russian equipment and Russia would have a lot of interest in protecting their secrets as well. China may in fact, want us to see the aircraft in action so as to have some bragging rights.

vincelee

The US has done it before (Iran comes to mind), and it'll do it again.

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That was around 50 years ago during the Cold War where few eyes watched or few eyes cared. Now we live in a far more conscientious time and many eyes are watching us around the world. An overthrow would be criticized by many nations and by the American public. It would quickly get to terrorists who would capitalize on it. Bush isn't that stupid, despite all appearances.

The PRC doesn't have to export FC-1 with "sensitive" domestic technology. No reason why they can't sell via Pakistan as JF-17 with European avonics & radar, like the FIAR Grifo S-7. The first fixed-wing fighters delivered to the new Iraqi AF are unlikely to be equipped with BVR missiles anyway.

But I think the US will stay in Iraq for some years to come, and if the T-72 sale was any indication, they'd prolly import some used/surplus MiG-21's from former Eastern-block nation to serve in the new Iraqi AF.

Right now, it is very unlikely China will sell anything to Iraq. It would be a PR nightmare if China was found to be selling weapons to a nation supousedly under western influence. Not only that, but imagine if civil war DID break out and someone is found using Chinese imported military technology? People could leap to the conclusion that China is somehow trying to vie for territory in Iraq, or even cause general chaos for whatever reason people could come up with. It would be a political nightmare. Besides, it's not too intelegent for China to go selling top military technology willy-nilly like the Soviets did.

DPRKUnderground said:

I agree with the Dhruv part. It would be cheap and the US would be happy, but the Iraqis are familiar with Russian stuff. I think Mi-17s are going over there for heavy stuff. Tank-wise, Iraq is has shown interest in the Al-Khalid. It uses some Ukrainian systems, so they would be familiar with some stuff, not much, but some. Also it works in the desert. The Iraqi government has also shown interest in the Al-Tahla for the APC. Basically a cheap, improved version of the M-113. But the Air Force doesn't want flying coffins! They're going with MiG-29s and F-16s!

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1. Indian eqpt will be good only for target practice by the belligerents.
2. Both Pakistan and China should be careful not to sell eqpt to outfits not well led, disciplined or properly trained. The deficiency of the user is always forgotten in a mishap, and it is easy to blame the potency of the eqpt.