By Anas al-Bar | 2024-09-24

Iraq is scheduled to take delivery of 14 military helicopters, including 12 H225M multi-role combat aircraft, from Airbus early next year.

The deal, signed by Iraq's Ministry of Defense and France's Airbus Helicopters on September 5, reflects Iraq's determination to modernize its military capabilities to fight the resurging threat from the "Islamic State of Iraq and Syria" (ISIS).

The deal includes "the latest generation helicopters," Iraqi Minister of Defense Thabet al-Abbassi said during a joint press conference with French Ambassador to Iraq Patrick Durel.

Iraqi commanders have seen firsthand "the huge capabilities that these helicopters have shown during the French forces' participation in the war on ISIS as part of the international coalition," he said.

The Iraqi government seeks to acquire state-of-the-art weapons to support the Air Force and boost its combat efficiency, he said.

Durel described the deal as "an important contract to boost the Iraqi army's capabilities and strengthen the country's sovereignty."

Baghdad and Paris have been working to strengthen bilateral defense ties.

In a January 2023 trip to Paris, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani held talks with representatives of various French defense manufacturers on the potential acquisition of helicopters, radars and the Dassault Rafale fighter jet.

Airbus will deliver the helicopters "as quickly as possible," said Arnaud Montalvo, head of Airbus Helicopters for the Middle East.

The delivery will be over several months, starting in early 2025, he said.

Reliable, combat-proven helicopter

The H225M, known as the "Caracal" in French military service, is the latest evolution of the Puma helicopter family and can be used for search and rescue, transport, assault missions and special forces insertion, AFP reported.

The 11-ton helicopter has proven its reliability and durability in combat, crisis zones and harsh weather conditions.

The helicopter features advanced radar technology, military analyst Safaa al-Assam told Al-Fassel.

The Iraqi Air Force "is in need of such sophisticated helicopters to enable it to hunt down the enemy wherever it tries to hide," he said.

The nature of combat against ISIS changed after mid-2017 when the group was defeated across the country, he added.

"The confrontation today has a security and intelligence dimension and is aimed at uncovering the hidden sanctuaries of terrorists," especially in the Hamreen hills, Makhoul mountains, western desert and al-Jazeera, he said.

These confrontations will require "sophisticated systems, night surveillance, reconnaissance and attack aircraft," he said.

France has deployed troops in Iraq as part of the international coalition against ISIS, and last year announced plans to train Iraqi units.