Iraqi Defense Ministry sources reported the receipt of three Russian-made Sukhoi fighter jet (SU-25) according to the contract signed with the Russian government.

The sources added that tons of ammunition were also received.

No other details were given.

On 28 June 2014, Iraqi security officials have said the country has received the first batch of fighter jets that it had ordered from Russia to help battle gains by a militant group, BBC News reported then.

According to the report, the officials said “five second-hand Sukhoi attack aircraft would enter service within a few days, and that more were on their way.”

Iraq has been fighting an offensive by insurgents from the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS).

ISIS is a more radical offshoot of al-Qaeda that has its roots in Iraq and expanded into Syria shortly after the start of the three-year insurgency against President Bashar al-Assad.

The Su-25 is a multirole twin-engine attack fighter for close air support was developed in the 1960s.

The Su-25 is designed for highly precision destruction of ground targets in all weather conditions by day or night, primarily destruction of armored targets, bridges, means of transport, firing positions, command and control elements, convoys, motorways, railways, combat helicopters etc.

Its combat capabilities, resistance, striking power and efficiency make it fully comparable with its American counterpart A-10 Thunderbolt. Its structure, universal electronic equipment and especially wide range of multipurpose weaponry and the possibility of its application in the most demanding conditions make the Su-25 suitable for close air support of ground units.