IRAQI ARMY RECEIVES LAST BATCH OF RUSSIAN-MADE PANTSIR-S1 AIR DEFENSE SYSTEMS

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On March 21, the Iraqi Army received the last batch of Russian-made Pantsir-S1 short to medium range air defense systems, which consisted of fourteen systems, according to several Iraqi sources. The Iraqi Army now has 48 Pantsir-S1 systems in active service.

Preliminary agreements to sell $4.2 US billion of Russian weapons to Iraq, including 48 Pantsir-S1 systems, were signed during then Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki’s state visit to Moscow in October 2012.

The Iraqi Army’s variety of the Pantsir-S1 system is equipped with the advanced Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) target acquisition radar, which can detect and track targets from 40km (wider ranges is reported, probably under ideal conditions), with a higher jamming resistance.

The Pantsir-S1 is armed with two dual 2A38M 30 mm autocannon guns along with up to twelve radio-command-guided 57E6 surface-to-air missiles with the operational range of 20 km and the flight altitude of 10 km.

Last February, the Iraqi Army received 36 T-90S battle tanks from Russia. According to Iraqi sources, the Iraqi Army is set to receive more Russian-made weapons this year, including more T-90S battle tanks and BMP-3 infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs).

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