Iraq buys 12 new Caracal H225M helicopters in new defense deal with Airbus, will the advanced Rafale deal follow?
Yesterday, September 5, 2024, the Iraqi Ministry of Defense signed a formal agreement with Airbus Helicopters to purchase a fleet of 14 military helicopters, including 12 new H225M Caracal helicopters and two additional helicopters of a different type. The contract was signed in Baghdad and was attended by Iraqi Defense Minister Thabet Mohammed Saeed Al-Abbasi, French Ambassador Patrick Dorrell and a representative from Airbus Helicopters. Deliveries are expected to begin in early 2025, according to the agreement.
Iraq’s interest in purchasing the H225M Caracal helicopters increased following a statement made by Major General Tahseen al-Khafaji, spokesman for the Joint Operations Command, in an interview with Al-Iraqiya TV on July 31, 2024. Major General al-Khafaji indicated that discussions were underway regarding a possible contract with France that would include the H225M Caracal, describing the aircraft as suitable for a variety of operational environments in Iraq. He indicated that political and military leaders were working to finalize the agreement, although he did not provide additional details, leaving the status of the deal open to interpretation.
Based on similar agreements, the cost of 12 H225M Caracal helicopters could be around €800 million, similar to the deal signed with the United Arab Emirates in December 2021. The specific financial terms of the Iraq contract were not disclosed.
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