ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — F-16 fighter jets purchased for the Iraqi air force from the US were delivered to Iraq today, according to the office of Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi.
Iraqi Defense Minister Khaled al-Obaidi previously stated that the Balad Airbase 64 kilometers north of Baghdad was ready for receiving the purchased jets.
The F-16 is a single engine, all-weather military aircraft. It was originally developed by General Dynamics before the manufacturer became part of Lockheed Martin after a merger in 1995.
Iraq ordered 36 F-16s. The jets Iraq ordered are F-16IQ Block 52s, which are considered downgrades from the advanced F-16C/D Block 52. This is seen as part of the US policy of avoiding selling the Iraqi government sophisticated jets capable of using advanced air-to-ground weapons and air-to-air missiles in order to alleviate the fears of regional US allies.
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