Iraq Receives 4 Thales Radars and Anticipates the Arrival of 6 Caracal Drones

Iraqi News

30-05-2025

Baghdad – INA
The Ministry of Defense announced today, Friday, Iraq's most significant contracts in the fields of armament, air defense, and cybersecurity. While indicating the receipt of 6 Caracal drones in the middle of next month, it also confirmed the receipt of French Thales radars that cover wide areas of Iraqi airspace.
The Director of the Ministry's Media and Moral Guidance Directorate, Major General Tahseen Al-Khafaji, told the Iraqi News Agency (INA): "The Caracal drones, which were contracted as part of plans to strengthen the Iraqi Air Force, will arrive in the middle of next month," indicating that "Iraq will receive six aircraft this year, while 14 others will arrive during the next year."
He added, "Three advanced boats were received from Turkey this year, which represents a significant development in our naval capabilities," noting that "work is also continuing in the field of cybersecurity, particularly with regard to the anti-drone system, in cooperation with Spain."
He continued, "This system specializes in countering drones, as it monitors their hertzian frequencies and electronically shoots them down. It is part of modern cyber defense technologies."
Regarding military manufacturing, Al-Khafaji emphasized that "military manufacturing is witnessing tangible growth, especially in meeting the needs of ground forces for binoculars and weapons. Contracts have been signed with advanced entities in this field, which have proven highly efficient and provided the security forces with what they need." He noted that "Iraq has extensive experience in the form of engineers and officers, and we have advanced international relationships that have enabled us to learn about the latest global systems in armament and organization."
Regarding air defense, Al-Khafaji confirmed that "Iraq has obtained four French-made Thales radars that cover large areas of Iraq. Additional low-altitude radars have also been acquired, with three of them received so far as part of a larger batch awaiting delivery. This will contribute to meeting national air defense requirements."
He pointed out that "the armament process in Iraq is carried out according to integrated planning between the Air Force, Air Defense, Army Aviation, and the Ground Forces, to ensure the integration of the weapons system and to meet the needs of each military branch." He stated that "the fundamental issue in armament is the availability of a financial budget, as armament is expensive and requires infrastructure and continuous maintenance, especially with the diversity of armament sources, which requires careful planning and an appropriate environment." He explained that "the availability of funds allows us to keep pace with the times and keep pace with changing challenges, and develop the necessary plans to confront them and mitigate their impact." He explained that "the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, during an important meeting held recently that included the Ministers of Defense and Interior and a number of security agencies, emphasized the importance of a strategic vision for future armament, in line with Iraq's defense and security requirements."