Ukraine lands plum contract to supply tanks to Iraq

December10200920:27

The contract was signed by the state-run Ukrspetsexport company. The contract will be serviced by its state-run Progres subsidiary which handled Ukraine’s hitherto largest arms-sale deal to supply 320 tanks to Pakistan.

The Iraqi contract will allow to raise production by Kharkiv-based Morozov tank design institute and the Malyshev Tank Plant. Producers of electronic and engineering equipment will also be involved. Altogether, 80 Ukrainian companies will take part in implementing the project.

Experts note that Washington had a major say in Iraq’s decision to buy tanks from Ukraine.

As the contract will be funded with money provided by the United States to rearm Iraq. In all, the USA has allocated $3 billion for the program, of which $2.48 billion will pay for the contract with Ukraine.

Experts say that, despite the absence of an official tender, arms sellers from Poland, the Czech Republic, Bulgaria, and Slovenia had their eyes on the lucrative contract.