Iraq turns its eye on Russian weapons

Russia is set to supply the Iraqi army with approximately 400 advanced mine clearing vehicles next week for clearing the mines planted by the Islamic State (IS) in vast areas, according to a report from Iran's Fars News Agency (FNA).

Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi has inked a 'secret' contract with Russia to equip the Iraqi army with the demining vehicles, the agency quotes a senior Iraqi official as saying without releasing his name. "The armored vehicles will be used in military operations against the IS Takfiri terrorists in Northern and Western Iraq upon arrival in the country," the source apparently said, adding that the costs for purchasing the vehicles will be paid by the Iraqi government later.

The story is illustrated with a photo of a Russian BMR-3M “Vepr” (Boar) armored clearance vehicle.

The vehicle was developed on the basis of the T-90 MBT (main battle tank); it was built to collect intelligence, overcome obstacles and perform mine clearance. It clears passages of a width approximately equal to the inter-wheel clearance of tanks, infantry fighting vehicles and armored personnel carriers. Attached to the front of the vehicle are two arms, each with solid steel wheels that rely on their weight to detonate mines while driving over them; this doesn't damage the tanks due to their thickness, allowing the vehicle to continue along its path with other tanks such as the T-90 following it.

The agency stressed that earlier in May, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov had already said that Moscow is ready to send more weapons and ammunition to Bagdad to help the crisis-hit country overcome the Takfiri terrorist groups, particularly the IS.

According to the Russian media, Russia has already supplied fighting equipment to Iraq: Russian Mi28 anti-armor attack helicopter, multirole Mi-35 attack helicopters, the Sukhoi Su-25 fighter jets, TOS-1A heavy flamethrower systems, Pantsir air defense systems, Dzhigit support launching units, artillery and other ammunition.

Read more: http://sputniknews.com/military/20150709/1024418069.html#ixzz3fPczhosD

Iraq, Russia Sign Military-Technical Cooperation Agreement

Iraqi Defense Minister Khaled Obaidi and Director of the Russian Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation Alexander Fomin signed an agreement on military-technical cooperation, Iraqi Defense Ministry said.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — “Iraqi Defense Minister Khaled Obaidi and Director of the Russian Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation Alexander Fomin have signed the protocol of the second meeting of the intergovernmental Russian-Iraqi Commission on military-technical cooperation that convened in the city of St.Petersburg [Russia],” the statement published on the Ministry’s website said Thursday.

The protocol summarizes agreements reached during the talks and action mechanisms requiring further development.

According to the statement, after the meeting, Obaidi thanked Russia for supporting Iraq “in all fields, especially military cooperation.”

Fomin, for his part, said that Russia is committed to help Iraq strengthen its military capability in light of current terror threats.

Iraq is one of several countries dealing with the affects of Islamic State (IS) terrorist group advances. In 2014, IS militants seized large areas in Iraq and Syria, proclaiming a caliphate in occupied territories. The group is notorious for committing multiple ongoing human rights atrocities, especially against those who do not accept their system of belief.

Read more: http://sputniknews.com/politics/20150731/1025245905.html#ixzz3hSz5gOYo

sheytanelkebir wrote:Iraqi pm haider Abadi meeting with dozen iraqi pilots training in Russia in may 2015.

Forget the reason for the meeting, just look with awe at that lighting rig relative to the size of the stage! Talk about overkill.