George1 Thu Jan 07, 2016 6:09 pm
US to Sell $800Mln of Hellfire, Captive Air Training Missiles to Iraq
Washington endorsed a sale of Hellfire missiles and Captive Air Training Missiles to Baghdad.
WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — The United States has approved the sale of $800 million worth of Hellfire missiles and Captive Air Training Missiles to Iraq, The Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) announced in a statement on Thursday.
"The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to Iraq of Hellfire missiles and Captive Air Training Missiles, related equipment and support. The estimated cost is $800 million. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale on January 6, 2016," the statement said.
Washington’s latest weapons sale to Iraq comes as the United States has vowed to help Iraqi forces fight Daesh (Islamic State) within its borders, as the terrorist organization has claimed swaths of territory in the region.
DSCA said that the sale of 5,000 AGM-114K/N/R Hellfire missiles, ten 114K M36E9 Captive Air Training Missiles, as well as "associated equipment; and defense services," which major US defense contractor Lockheed Martin will produce, came at the request of Iraq.
In recent months, Iraqi security forces made progress in reclaiming Ramadi, the capital of Anbar province, after the city fell to Daesh terrorists in May, in Baghdad’s largest defeat against the extremist group.
Read more: http://sputniknews.com/military/20160107/1032807113/us-iraq-hellfire-missiles.html#ixzz3waDqqQe2