(Baghdad) After openly berating the US for not delivering the 36 F-16s they ordered in 2011 (the first 2 planes only flew for the first time in May after coming off the production line), the Iraqi government went running to Moscow and asked them to help. This morning, 6 SU-25 (Frogfoot) aircraft were delivered.
A Close Air Support (C.A.S.) aircraft, the SU-25 is basically the Russian equivalent of the A-10 (ironically, the Iraqis have realised that they require such an aircraft in which to support their ground forces, while the Obama administration is trying to get rid of the A-10).
A capable little aircraft, the Frogfoot has been used extensively around the world, including in Iraq during its war with Iran (purchasing over 75 of them). However, by 2003, only around 12 remained and they were soon got rid of. With such an intimate history with the aircraft, it comes as no surprise why the Iraqi airforce have purchased 6 of them from Russia to fill their current gap in C.A.S. Especially when they also have on order 24 T-50IQs light attack craft which are based on the successful South Korean T-50 trainer, which itself is based around the F-16.
The IDF until last year were going to buy the FA-50, but instead went with the Italian M-346.
A Close Air Support (C.A.S.) aircraft, the SU-25 is basically the Russian equivalent of the A-10 (ironically, the Iraqis have realised that they require such an aircraft in which to support their ground forces, while the Obama administration is trying to get rid of the A-10).
A capable little aircraft, the Frogfoot has been used extensively around the world, including in Iraq during its war with Iran (purchasing over 75 of them). However, by 2003, only around 12 remained and they were soon got rid of. With such an intimate history with the aircraft, it comes as no surprise why the Iraqi airforce have purchased 6 of them from Russia to fill their current gap in C.A.S. Especially when they also have on order 24 T-50IQs light attack craft which are based on the successful South Korean T-50 trainer, which itself is based around the F-16.
