Lieutenant General Maan al-Saadi, the commander of Iraqi Air Defence Command, inspects a Pantsir unit deployed to Kabala province in August 2020. (Iraqi Air Defence Command)
Iraq's Air Defence Command is expecting to receive advanced new systems this year, according to its commander, Lieutenant General Maan al-Saadi.
“Contracts were signed with the support of the commander-in-chief of the armed forces, minister of defence, and chief of staff of the army, which aim to support the Air Defence Command and improve its combat capabilities,” Lt Gen Saadi told the Iraqi News Agency (INA) during the celebration of his command's twenty-ninth anniversary. “It is hoped that during the current year advanced modern systems will be introduced.”
A spokesperson for the commander-in-chief of the armed forces confirmed to the INA that contracts had been signed after military officials visited countries that produce advanced air-defence systems in 2021. The plan is to acquire two types of multi-purpose anti-aircraft systems, he added.
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