The Iraqi government is negotiating with the US government and BAE Systems to purchase 200 Bradley Fighting Vehicles sometime during the next 15 months, according to BAE officials.

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.

“We’ve done all the upfront work and for those sales,” said Mark Signorelli, Vice President and General Manager of Vehicle Systems for BAE.

He added that Iraq already has about 1,000 tracked M113 infantry carriers made by BAE.

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 Bradley is designed to transport infantry with armor protection while providing covering fire to suppress enemy troops and armored vehicles. The M2 can hold a crew of three: a commander, a gunner and a driver; as well as six fully equipped soldiers.

 

Source: Defense News