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South Korea seeks growing arms deals with Iraq

South Korea seeks growing arms deals with Iraq

Iraqi News25-04-2025
Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) – With negotiations to provide more military equipment, such as fighter jets, helicopters, and air defense systems, South Korea is stepping up its attempts to increase its military sales to Iraq.
The Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA), a central administrative agency of the South Korean Ministry of National Defense, said in a statement on Wednesday that the discussions took place on the sidelines of the he 13th Security, Defense, Military Industries, and Cybersecurity Exhibition, which was held in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, from April 19 to 22, Defence Blog News reported.
The chief of the helicopter program division, Ko Hyung-seok, reportedly met with senior Iraqi officials to discuss further military collaboration, according to DAPA.
The discussions included potential sales of locally manufactured fighter jets, mobile air defense units, and South Korea's KUH-1 Surion utility helicopter.
Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI), a South Korean aerospace and defense manufacturer, said in December that it had signed a 136 billion won ($93.7 million) deal to provide Iraq with KUH helicopters.
Under the deal, the new helicopters will be delivered to the Iraqi government by March 2029, according to South Korea's Yonhap News Agency.
The KUH-1 Surion, a medium transport helicopter, was developed by KAI in 2012 to replace the army's aging fleet of UH-1H and 500MD helicopters.
KAI has developed various aerospace products, including training aircraft, fighter jets, helicopters, unmanned aerial vehicles, satellites, and training systems.
Earlier in December, the Iraqi Prime Minister, Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani, received representatives of KAI in Baghdad, where they discussed strategies to enhance Iraq's air defense systems.
Al-Sudani reaffirmed the government's commitment to working with KAI and utilizing its knowledge and expertise, according to the Prime Minister's Office (PMO).
The endeavor is in line with the government's goals of reforming Iraq's security sector and strengthening security forces' capabilities.
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