Iraq, Russia Sign Multi-Billion Dollar Arms Contracts

Posted October 9th, 2012 at 8:15 am (UTC-5)
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Iraq has signed contracts pledging to buy more than $4.2 billion worth of weapons from Russia.

The Russian government made the announcement in a statement issued Tuesday following a meeting between Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev and his visiting Iraqi counterpart Nouri al-Maliki.

The deals reportedly include the purchase of 30 Mi-28 attack helicopters and 42 Pantsir-S1 surface-to-air missile systems.

The statement said the two sides initially discussed the deals as early as last April during Iraqi delegation visits that included Defense Minister Saadun al-Dulaimi. The Iraqi delegation also visited Russia in July and August.