WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — The Iraqi air force has received two additional F-16 fighter jets, Operation Inherent Resolve spokesman Col. Steve Warren told reporters on Wednesday.
"I can confirm that a second batch of F-16s has arrived here in Iraq," Warren stated in a briefing. "It’s quantity of two, which brings the total count of F-16s here in the Iraq air force up to six."
In 2012, Iraq signed a contract to buy its second set of 18 F-16 fighters from the United States, part of a deal to purchase 36 of the jets to rebuild its air force, according to the country's defense ministry.
Warren explained that the lack of trained Iraqi pilots limits US ability to deliver the jets to the country.
In January, the US Department of State has approved a potential $1.95 billion sale of additional weapons, munitions and equipment for Iraq’s fleet of F-16 fighter jets.
The requested order included 24 air-to-air AIM-9M Sidewinder missiles, 150 air-to-ground tactical Maverick missiles and more than 16,000 warheads, among other equipment, according to the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency.
