BAGHDAD -- Another batch of trainer aircraft will arrive to Iraq from South Korea this year.
Baghdad's Air Force will receive another batch of T-50 trainers, produced by KAI in South Korea.
Iraqi News quoted the Iraqi Foreign Ministry as saying in a statement, "Iraq will receive a new batch of South Korean fighter jets by the end of 2018 as per a contract signed in 2013." The announcement followed a visit by the country's Ambassador to South Korea, Haider Shayya al-Barak, to manufacturer KAI's headquarters in South Korea.
Reports referred to the T-50 aircraft as 'fighter jets' as they may be armed, but Baghdad is planning to use them in the advanced training role.
The ambassador held discussions with KAI regarding the delivery of the T-50s. The Foreign Ministry statement noted, "Iraq had already received two batches, six fighters each, and a third batch with the same number is expected by the end of the current year," according to Iraqi News.
The first delivery occurred in March 2017, while another arrived earlier this year. It is expected that the final batch will arrive some time in 2019, completing the contract.
Iraq placed an order for 24 T-50s in 2013, under an agreement worth over $1 billion. KAI will perform after-sale services for the aircraft following deliveries.
As Iraq has acquired new aircraft, its Air Force has taken on an increasing role against the Islamic State, which has largely been ousted from major population centers in the country but remains a potent insurgent threat. Earlier this week, Iraqi fighter jets conducted airstrikes in Deir ez-Zor, Syria, after coordinating the attack with the Syrian government.
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