US Iraq’s F-16 Fleet deal: The US Air Force has given a new contract to Vectrus Systems, a company based in Colorado to help Iraq keep its F-16 fighter jets ready for missions. This new deal comes only a few months after another $118-million agreement in June, showing that the United States wants stable support for Iraq’s air force.
The latest deal is worth about $252 million, and it covers many basic needs at the Martyr Brigadier General Ali Flaih Air Base in Salah al-Din province.
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The work includes help with base operations, life support tasks, and security services. The United States expects all the work to finish by September 24, 2026. By signing this contract, the US Air Force keeps a long-running pattern of American companies working at this base, reported Iraqi News. Reports say that this steady help makes sure that Iraq’s F-16 jets stay ready even when the base faces trouble like militia attacks or moments when contractors must leave for safety.
Iraq’s F-16 Fleet
Iraq owns 34 F-16 fighter jets and these jets arrived in the country in 2014. That same year, the United States started airstrikes against the Islamic State group in Iraq and Syria under a mission called Operation Inherent Resolve. The F-16s became an important part of that effort because they can attack ground targets and help guide missions.
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The jets stay at the Martyr BG Ali Flaih Air Base, which is about 60 to 70 kilometers north of Baghdad. This base sits in central Iraq and works as the main center for fixed-wing strike missions. Iraqi forces use this place as a launch point to attack Islamic State positions that still hide inside the country.
The long contract period through 2026 also gives Iraq some stability at a time when its air bases sometimes face danger.
