Iraq plans to buy French Rafale fighters

19 October, 2024 Dassault Rafale fighter jet. Photo: Dassault Aviation Iraq plans to purchase French Dassault Rafale fighters to strengthen the country's air defense capabilities.

This was reported by La Tribune. Currently, the Iraqi Ministry of Defense is trying to get closer to the French defense industry by placing significant arms purchase contracts. Among Iraq's plans is the purchase of Rafale fighters, which will complement the newly formed air defense and control system, consisting mainly of the French radar stations.

A Rafale B fighter jet during the Chammal air operation against ISIS over Syria and Iraq.

Photo: French Air and Space Force

In total, Iraq has planned to purchase 12 Rafale fighter jets worth £3.2 billion, of which the first £240 million were paid as part of the down payment. As previously stated by the Iraqi government, it is ready to pay for the new Dassault fighter jets not in foreign currency, but in oil supplies to France. It should be noted that the new fighters will complement the fleet of American F-16s, which became the first type of modern aircraft in the Iraqi Air Force.

In addition, due to the pressure from the Israeli government, the sale of Meteor air-launched missiles to Iraq will be blocked in the same way as it was with the Egyptian Rafale fighters, which use the French MICA EM/IR as their main missile system.

Two Rafal C fighter jets of the French Air and Space Force. Photo: Bjorn Trotzki

It should be noted that in addition to the purchase of the Rafale fighters, Iraq has also placed an order for the purchase of French Ground Master family stationary radar stations, which will allow the country to create a centralized airspace monitoring system. Separately, in August 2024, an order was placed for the purchase of French Airbus H225M Caracal transport helicopters.

According to Al-Khafaji, the Iraqi Army Aviation will receive 12 newly built H225M Caracal helicopters and two refurbished H225s.

Over the past two years, exports of the French Rafale fighter jets have more than doubled, due to both high quality of products and favorable conditions offered by Dassault in cooperation with the French Ministry of the Armed Forces.

Earlier, Militarnyi reported that the French aircraft manufacturer Dassault was increasing production of modern Rafale fighter jets due to a large volume of orders.