Cooperation flies high: Iraq receives first Caracal helicopters from France
According to the ministry's statement, Defense Minister Thabit Al-Abbasi confirmed the handover as part of a long-term contract between Baghdad and Paris to supply a full fleet of Caracal aircraft.
'The remaining helicopters will be delivered in stages as production concludes, with operational deployment scheduled for June to coincide with the Army Aviation Command's anniversary.'
Al-Abbasi, after joining a test flight aboard one of the helicopters flown by an Iraqi crew, praised the rapid progress of Iraqi pilots and engineers, highlighting their 'swift mastery of advanced systems.'
The Ministry described the Caracal as a high-performance, multi-role platform capable of operating in harsh conditions, emphasizing that the helicopters will significantly enhance the mobility, readiness, and effectiveness of Iraq's Army Aviation Force.
تسلّمت وزارة الدفاع العراقية، اليوم الاربعاء ٣٠ نيسان ٢٠٢٥، طائرتين فرنسيتين نوع "كاراكال"، كدفعة أولى بناءً على العقد المبرم بين وزارتي الدفاع العراقية ونظيرتها الفرنسية.وألقى وزير الدفاع، السيد ثابت محمد سعيد العباسي @modministeriq ، كلمة بهذه المناسبة عبّر خلالها عن عمق… pic.twitter.com/Jqis7NUwi0
— وزارة الدفاع العراقية (@modmiliq) April 30, 2025
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