US State Department Approves $1 Billion Pilot Training Contract For Iraqi Air Force

The US State Department approved a possible Foreign Military Sale worth $1.06 billion for pilot and maintenance training, contractor logistical support (CLS) for trainer aircraft, and base support for Iraqi Air Force personnel.

The Government of Iraq has requested a possible sale of pilot training; maintenance training; and contractor logistical services support for C-172, C-208, and T-6 aircraft for up to five years to include contractor aircraft modification; repair and spare parts; publications; aircraft ferry; and miscellaneous parts, along with training base operation support, base life support, security, construction, and other related elements of program support, Defense Security Cooperation Agency announced Thursday.

The principal contractor is Spartan College, Tulsa, OK.

The training pipeline will allow the Iraqi Air Force to tailor pilot training for several U.S.-origin operational aircraft. The C-172s and T-6s are Iraq’s training platforms for their mobility and fighter attack fleets. The C-208s are Iraq’s platform of choice for training its Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) pilots, the statement added.