Image source: topwar.ru
The Mi-17 attack and transport helicopters of the Iraqi Air Force are living out their last days, the Ministry of Defense of the country intends to replace Russian rotorcraft with American ones. This is reported by The Drive.
Iraq intends to abandon Russian helicopters, explaining this allegedly by the unavailability of spare parts for them in connection with the ongoing military special operation in Ukraine. Russia primarily sends spare parts for its own needs, only then servicing other countries. Apparently, Moscow has no spare parts left for Iraq, the helicopters are out of service.
Instead of the Russian Mi-17, the Iraqis want to buy American Bell 412EPXs and Bell 412M helicopters, this is not surprising, given that the Iraqi Defense Ministry is being pushed to this by the United States, which actually occupied this country.
- the Pentagon report says.
In total, Iraq intends to purchase 4 Bell 412EPX helicopters and 16 Bell 412M helicopters to replace the Russian-made Mi-17 fleet. The timing of the replacement has not yet been reported.
Earlier, the United States thwarted a potential deal to replace American F-16IQ fighters with Russian Su-30 multipurpose fighters.
