The State Department announced this week they had approved a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Iraq for King Air 350 sustainment, logistics, and spares support. The required certification notifying Congress of the possible sale was delivered by the Defense Security Cooperation Agency on February 23, 2016 (notice of a potential sale is required by law and does not mean the sale has been concluded.)
The five-year sustainment package (est. value $350 million) was requested by the Government of Iraq in order to address the operational needs and maintenance of its King Air fleet. This includes fulfillment of spare parts, component repair, publication updates, maintenance training, and logistics.
The Iraq Air Force (IqAF) currently own and operate five King Air 350 ISR (intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance) and one standard King Air 350. The aircraft are used to support Iraqi military operations against Al-Qaeda affilates and Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) forces. The package will allow for IqAF to operate the fleet of 6 beyond September 2016.
“The proposed sale will contribute to the foreign policy and national security goals of the United States by helping to improve a critical capability of the Iraq Security Forces in defeating ISIL,” stated the DSCA.
The prime contractor will be Beechcraft Defense Company, Wichita, KS with no known offset agreements proposed in connection with the potential sale.
The DSCA went on to note no additional U.S. Government or contractor representatives would be need for the sale and there would be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a result of the proposed sale.