The defence chiefs of Korea and Iraq agreed last week to strengthen arms industry cooperation, Seoul’s Defence Ministry said, amid signs of Baghdad’s interest in a Korean-built helicopter.
Korean Defence Minister Shin Won-sik and his Iraqi counterpart Thabet Mohammed Saeed Al-Abbasi (photo) made the agreement during their talks in Seoul where they discussed ways to expand bilateral defence ties, according to the Ministry.
Shin briefed the Iraqi official on various Korean weapons systems, noting the two sides have established the foundation for further cooperation with the export of the T-50 series aircraft to Iraq.
In 2013, Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) signed a deal to supply 24 T-50IQs, a variant of the T-50 supersonic trainer, to the Middle Eastern country.
The Iraqi Minister expressed expectations that if advanced Korean weapons are introduced to Iraq, it would help strengthen the country’s defence capabilities, according to the Ministry.
The Ministry said the Iraqi Minister also planned to meet CEOs of major Korean defense companies during his stay in Korea, including KAI.
Meanwhile, the Iraqi Ministry of Defence said a delegation from the Ministry visited Cheongju Air Base and Daewoo Company in South Korea last week.
The Iraqi delegation was led by the Deputy Chief of Staff for Al Meera, Hamid Anad, and included Ministry officials. The purpose of the visit was to explore and benefit from Korean companies’ experience in building and rehabilitating airbases.
The visit lasted two days, during which the delegation conveyed greetings from the Minister of Defence and the Army Chief of Staff to the Korean side, emphasizing their commitment to exchanging expertise in this field.
Earlier this month, Lt. General Sameer Zaki Hussein Al-Maliki, Commander of Iraq’s Army Aviation Command, checked a KUH-1 Surion helicopter during his visit to KAI’s headquarters in Sacheon, 296 kilometers southeast of Seoul, raising speculation over a potential deal. (South Korean Ministry of National Defence/Yonhap; Iraqi Ministry of Defence; Photo © South Korean Ministry of National Defence)
