Iraq wants to buy $463 million worth of US trucks, trailers, ambulances, motorcycles and other vehicles to help equip the Iraqi army, the US Defence Security Co-operation Agency said on Friday.
In a notice to Congress about the possible sale, the agency said the sale of the equipment would help Iraq establish a new military brigade headquarters and new battalions.
"This proposed sale supports the Iraqi Prime Minister al-Maliki Initiative to train and equip an additional 30,000 additional Iraqi soldiers to accelerate the transition of combat operations in Iraq from coalition to Iraqi National Forces, and is funded by Iraqi national funds," the Defence Security Co-operation Agency said. Contractors for the fleet of vehicles have not yet been identified, it said. Under federal law, the agency must notify Congress of a potential sale of US defence equipment and weapons to other countries.
The list of vehicles sought by Iraq included: 522 high mobility multipurpose wheeled vehicles (HMMWVs) or 276 infantry light armoured vehicles,- 668 4X4 commercial light utility trucks, - 578 commercial trailers for 8-ton cargo, - 102 ambulances, - 78 motorcycles, - 78 new sedans, - 68 used sedans, - 66 8-ton cargo heavy trucks, - 14 4X4 commercial SUVs, - 8 heavy tracked recovery vehicles, - 6 40-ton trailer lowboys, - 5 commercial car carriers.