Iraq Receives 14 million U.S. shell, 7000 weapons and waiting for " F-16 " and Apache

The head of security cooperation office , Michael Bednarek hold the government for the responsibility for the delay in the arrival of weapons to Iraq , explaining that there is a need to implement a number of military , security and financial procedures to implement the armament projects by Apache and others.

He said in a statement to " Radio Sawa" , briefed by “Shafaq News " , " We are ahead of schedule on the delivery of weapons , but there are weapons armament linked to long-term programs, such as Apache helicopters , known as the largest attack aircraft ."

Iraq has signed a year and a half ago to get 24 aircraft , including six aircrafts will be leased , and before its arrival in Iraq , the disbursement of funds must be paid from the Ministry of Finance and transferred to the Central Bank and then to the U.S. Federal Reserve to start being built .

He added that the project is still on the discussion table at the Office of the Adjutant General in the Ministry of Defense and Army Aviation , " We have said that the implementation of the procedures will make the aircraft up to Iraq after nine months."

Bednarik said that it is likely that F-16 aircrafts would arrive Iraq next September if Balad Air Base was prepared.

"We are working closely with the Ministry of Defense and the Office of the Prime Minister to convert the required amounts for the purpose of preparation of Balad Air Base to receive these aircraft ."

He added, "It is a complicated issue more than preparation of airstrip to the fact that the country base facilities is invalid as infrastructure and security measures must be prepared."

The American official denied that there will be American pilots to lead the Apache helicopters or F-16 , but a program has been developed to train pilots and maintenance professionals from the Iraqis.

He disclosed that the United States has supplied Iraq with three surveillance and reconnaissance balloons and is still awaiting approval by the security ministries to equip seven other balloons .

The United States supplied Iraq since 17 of last January with 14 million rockets, including " Hell Fire " shells and seven thousand weapons included rifles , machine guns and missile launchers .

The Iraqi Ministry of Defense received on Monday 800 cannon rounds and " 99 Hell Fire rockets that will be shipped on Wednesday morning , in addition to 1000 tank shell in implementation of the Strategic Framework Agreement .