U.S. proposes $2.3 billion weapons sale to Iraq

Above: A civilian instructor uses a special tool to assist Iraqi troops from the 9th Iraqi Army Division with adjusting the sites on their new M16A2 rifles on Camp Taji in August. The U.S. is seeking to replace the Iraqi army's AK-47s in order stem the flow of arms into the black market.

U.S. eyes weapons sales worth up to $2.3 billion to Iraq

The Pentagon on Wednesday told Congress it was ready to sell Iraq up to $2.3 billion worth of weapons to help the Iraqi Army expand and take over missions now carried out by U.S. and allied forces.

The Defense Security Cooperation Agency, which oversees foreign military sales, said the sale would include vehicles, small arms ammunition, explosives and communications equipment, as well as upgrades to 32 additional UH-1 helicopters built by Textron Inc unit Bell Helicopter....

It said the sale would allow the Iraqi Army to expand its force structure by 25 battalions and a brigade headquarters.

DSCA said the Iraqi government had requested 980 M1151 Humvees and 123,544 M16A4 rifles, as well as a wide array of trucks and other vehicles, small arms, munitions, explosives and communications equipment.

Read the rest at ABC News

Text of the DOD Announcement

Iraq - Various Vehicles, Small Arms Ammunition, Explosives, and Communications Equipment

The Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress of a possible Foreign Military Sale to Iraq of various vehicles, small arms ammunition, explosives, and communications equipment as well as associated equipment and services. The total value, if all options are exercised, could be as high as $2.257 billion.

The Government of Iraq has requested a possible sale of the following: MDE includes: (980) M1151 High Mobility Multi-Purpose Wheeled Vehicles (HMMWV) and (123,544) M16A4 Rifles. Non-MDE includes:

890,000 12 Gauge 00 Buckshot
5,800,000 9mm Ball
100,000,000 M855 5.56 Ball
20,000,000 5.56mm Tracer
16,700,000 5.56mm Blank
5,700,000 5.56mm 4 Ball/1 Tracer
5,700,000 7.62mm 4 Ball/1 Tracer
13,600,000 7.62mm Ball Long
790,000 .50 Caliber 4 Ball/1 Tracer
10,000 40mm HEDP Grenades
32,000 60mm HE Mortar Rounds
32,000 60mm Illumination Rounds
5,000 81mm HE Mortar Rounds
5,000 81mm Illumination Rounds
7,000 Signal Flares
7,300 Stun Grenades
6,700 HC Smoke Grenades
12,035 M4 Carbines

Also included are: Upgrade and refurbishment of 32 additional UH-I HUEY helicopters to the UH-II configuration; Armored Land Cruisers (189); Armored Mercedes (10); Light utility trucks (1,815); Fire trucks (70); Fuel trucks (40); Septic truck (20); Water truck (45); Motorcycles (112); Sedans (1,425); 5 Ton Trucks (600); Medium Trucks (600); BTR 3E1 (336); 8 Ton Trucks (400); 12 Ton Trucks (400); 16-35 Ton Trucks (100); 35 Ton Trucks (20); Ambulances (122); Bulldozers (33); Excavators (10); Wheeled Loader (20); Variable Reach Forklifts (10); 5Kw generators (447); ILAV Route Clearing Vehicle (55); Wrecker w/Boom (19); Fuel Pumps (34); 11 Passenger Bus (127); 24 Passenger Bus (207); 44 Passenger Bus (80); Contact Maintenance Trucks (105); communication towers, troposcatter and Microwave radios, IDN, DPN, VSAT Operations and Maintenance, (1,518) VHF Wheeled Tactical and Base Station Radios, (4,800) VHF hand-held radios, (6,490) VHF man pack radios, clothing and individual equipment, standard and non-standard vehicle spare and repair parts, maintenance, support equipment, publications and documentation; personnel training and training equipment; Quality Assurance Team support services, U.S. Government and contractor engineering and logistics support services, preparation of aircraft for shipment, and other related elements of logistics support. The estimated cost is $2.257 billion.

This proposed sale will contribute to the foreign policy and national security of the United States by helping to improve the security of a friendly country. This proposed sale directly supports the Iraqi government and serves the interests of the Iraqi people and the U.S. The proposed sale of ammunition for small arms, vehicles, grenades, pyrotechnics, munitions, communication equipment, clothing and individual equipment, upgrade and refurbishment of 32 UH-I HUEY helicopters to UH-II configuration, and support will enable the Iraqi Army to expand their force structure by 25 battalions and a Brigade headquarters. This expansion will enable Iraq to equip new forces to assume the missions currently accomplished by U.S. and coalition forces and to sustain themselves in their efforts to bring stability to the country.

The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not affect the basic military balance in the region.

The contractors are unknown at this time. There are no known offset agreements proposed in connection with this potential sale.

Implementation of this proposed sale will not require the assignment of any additional U.S. Government and contractor representatives to Iraq.

There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a result of this proposed sale.

This notice of a potential sale is required by law; it does not mean that the sale has been concluded.

DSCA News Release

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