By Xinhua,
Baghdad : Iraqi air force has acquired reconnaissance aircraft from the US to boost its capabilities to fight insurgents in the war-torn country, defence ministry said in a statement Sunday.
“The ministry has received new American Kinh Air surveillance aircraft a few days ago,” the statement said quoting Iraq’s Defence Minister Abdul Qader Muhammad Jassem as saying.
The planes are equipped with latest technologies, Jassem said, but did not specify how much was paid for the delivery or the number of planes acquired.
To mark the occasion, a ceremony was organised in Baghdad Sunday.
The minister said Iraqi pilots had been trained to fly the planes that can transmit live images to military bases to help direct ground forces.
Some media reports said earlier that Iraqi air force had planned to purchase around 36 US F-16 fighter jets.