The Newcastle Herald (Australia) March 21, 2003
Iraq Fire Power
ARMY
* Iraq is believed to have between 375,000 and 425,000 regular soldiers, sailors and air force personnel.
* 2200 main battle tanks, 1400 armoured reconnaissance vehicles and some 2400 armoured personnel carriers (APCs).
* About 1900 towed artillery pieces, 150 self-propelled artillery vehicles and 200 mobile multiple rocket launchers.
* As many as 30 Scud-B missiles could still be in operation.
* Some 375 transport and 100 attack helicopters including the Russian Mi-24 Hind and French SA-316 Alouette III.
* 400 surface-to-air missile launchers and 1000 man-portable missile launchers and 6000 anti-aircraft guns.
* Possible arsenal of chemical weapons and short- and medium-range conventional missiles such as the Al Samoud, which has a range of 180km.
AIR FORCE v* Handful of outdated bombers such as the Russian TU-22 Blinder.
* About 200 fighter/attack aircraft, most vastly outdated Russian MIGs and Sukhoi.
* Up to one-third of aircraft are believed to be unserviceable.
* Some 40 other aircraft including tankers, transport and trainers.
NAVY
* Most vessels in a poor state of repair and rarely used, even for training purposes.
* About 150 small patrol craft which could be used for mine-laying and raiding missions, although most are no bigger than a civilian speedboat.
Source: Globalsecurity.org
Copyright © 2003, Newcastle Newspapers Pty Ltd
