Through the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program, the United States continues to provide services and support for the sustainment of the F-16C/D Block 52 fighter fleet operated by the Iraqi Air Force. This follows the most recent contract awarded to the company V2X, with an initial value of US$118 million.
Acquired through two major orders placed in the early 2010s, the Iraqi Air Force currently operates a fleet of 34 F-16C/D Block 52 fighter jets. Designated as F-16IQ, these aircraft today constitute Iraq’s primary air-to-air and air-to-ground combat platform, operating with a high degree of availability.
This is no minor detail, as it has been highlighted in past reports issued by the U.S. Department of Defense, which stated that the aircraft have an “…operational capability of 66%,” allowing “…the Iraqi Air Force (IqAF) to adequately carry out air-to-surface missions with the parts and personnel currently available.”
These findings are due in part to the significant support the United States has provided over the years to Iraq’s F-16 fleet through the FMS program. The most recent example is the contract awarded to V2X, under which the company will provide “…life support services and other operations” over a five-year period, with operations centered at Martyr Brigadier General Ali Flaih Air Base.
In statements made by Ken Shreves, Senior Vice President of Mission Support at V2X, he noted that the “…award is a testament to the strength of V2X’s full-spectrum capabilities.” He also added: “We are honored to have been selected to provide this critical strategic capability to the Iraqi Air Force in a high-demand environment.”
Lastly, among previously reported developments regarding Iraq’s F-16IQs, it is worth highlighting the progress in upgrade and modernization programs for these fighter jets, which aim to integrate new AN/ALQ-211 AIDEWS electronic warfare systems developed by L3Harris.
According to the company, the AIDEWS (Advanced Integrated Defensive Electronic Warfare Suite) is a comprehensive electronic defense system that protects an aircraft by disrupting, denying, and degrading a wide range of enemy threats autonomously. It also enhances the pilot’s situational awareness when being targeted by laser-guided air defense systems.
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