Iraqi Military Leadership Interested in Russian Su-57 Next Generation Fighters

Iraq has become the latest country to express interest in acquiring Russian Su-57 next generation fighter jets, with the military inspector for the Iraqi Ministry of Defence Imad Al-Zuhairi making a statement to this effect on August 23rd. Iraq currently has negligible aerial warfare capabilities, with its two classes of fighter the lightweight F-16 Fighting Falcon and South Korean sourced T-50 both equipped exclusively for ground attack roles - with the F-16 having a very short ranged defensive air to air armament comprised of AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles. The country has previously shown an interest in Russian S-400 and S-300 long range air defence systems, although it has been threatened with economic sanctions by the United States should it go ahead with such a purchase. Iraqi airspace has frequently been violated by powers with hostile intentions, most notably by the U.S. Military which on January 3rd carried out an airstrike near Baghdad International Airport targeting the commander of the Iranian Quds Force Qasem Soleimani - who had been invited to Iraq  to meet with the Prime Minister and had flow in to the country that day. The Israeli Air Force has also frequently operated in Iraqi airspace, at times using it to attack Syrian territory from its less well defended eastern border.

As Iraq’s conflict with jihadist insurgents draws to an end, the country has increasingly sought to assert itself against potential aggressors by investing in a more robust air defence capability - which will not only keep its airspace safe but will also reduce its reliance on protection from neighbouring Iran which has developed a very significant sphere of influence in the country. Nevertheless acquiring Su-57, Russia’s most capable and costly class of air superiority fighter, would represent a very sudden shift for the Iraqi military which would provide it with the most formidable aircraft for air to air combat in the entire Arab world and Middle East. The Su-57 entered serial production in July 2019, and integrates a number of sixth generation technologies with many more under development. It is widely considered the most capable fighter available for export anywhere in the world. The fighter has seen widespread interest from a number of countries from Vietnam, Malaysia and Myanmar to Algeria, Turkey and Iran. Despite the current Iraqi state having been established under a U.S. Military occupation, the country has formed close defence ties with Russia and moved to reduce its reliance on Western military equipment by acquiring weaponry from other sources - from Chinese attack drones and South Korean fighters to Russian T-90MS tanks and Mi-35, Mi-28 and Mi-17 helicopters.