Iraq negotiates with U.S. purchase 200 Bradley M2A2 ODS armoured infantry fighting vehicles 2908135

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Defence & Security News - Iraq
 
 
Thursday, August 29, 2013 01:00 PM
 
Iraq negotiates with U.S. the purchase of 200 Bradley M2A2 ODS armoured infantry fighting vehicles.
The Iraqi government is negotiating with the US government and BAE Systems to purchase 200 Bradley M2A2 ODS (Operation Desert Storm) Fighting Vehicles sometime during the next 15 months, according to BAE officials. (Source DefenseNews)
     
     

The potential deal is expected sometime in 2014 and could come just before another expected agreement is reached with Saudi Arabia to buy Bradleys in 2015. The Iraq contract would provide recently upgraded M2A2 ODS (Operation Desert Storm) variants to the Baghdad government, the same vehicles that the US Army National Guard uses.

If the deals eventually go through, they’ll follow on about $4.3 billion worth of contracts the Iraqi government has requested in recent weeks from the US government for 50 Stryker infantry carriers, helicopters and air defense systems.

There is also a pending $750 million deal to do maintenance work on Iraqi M113s, Humvees, M88s and other ground vehicles, which Signorelli said BAE will likely bid on as part of a team with industry partners.

The M2A2 Bradley AIFV (Armoured Infantry Fighting Vehicle) was introduced in the U.S. Army in 1988, it's an improved version of the standard vehicle Bradley M2A1.

After Operation Desert Storm (First Gulf War in 1991), the M2A2 was upgraded again with the addition of an eye-safe carbon dioxide laser rangefinder, global positioning system and compass, combat identification system, and thermal viewer for the driver. The 1423 M2A2 Bradleys brought up to this standard were referred to as M2A2 ODS (Operation Desert Storm).