Iraqi Air Force Acquires Advanced Radar System
Multi-National Force-Iraq
Friday, 30 October 2009
Multi-National Security Transition Command – Iraq
Public Affairs Office, Phoenix Base
APO AE 09348
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Release No. 091030-01
Oct. 30, 2009
Contact: pao@iraq.centcom.mil
DSN: 318-852-1332
IRAQNA: 0780-997-5063
Iraqi Air Force Acquires Advanced Radar System
KIRKUK REGIONAL AIR BASE, Iraq – The Iraqi air force advanced its monitoring capabilities for air defense with its acceptance of a digital air surveillance radar, or DASR, Oct. 26 in a ceremony held here.
The DASR system, which includes the radar and the radar control facility, gives Iraqi air traffic controllers the capability to monitor aircraft up to 120 nautical miles away. This permits them to detect aircraft along their borders with Syria, Turkey, and Iran.
“Today, another historical day added to our brothers and the Iraqi air force,” said Brig. Gen. Ahmed Ghani, Iraqi air force, communications director. “Through that system, we will identify more … aircraft entering our sovereignty.”
The DASR signal will eventually be remotely accessible from Baghdad International Airport so air traffic controllers can see all the airspace in Iraq.
The system also brings the Kirkuk airfield up to international civil aviation and surveillance standards, giving it the potential for future commercial airline use.
“We started this process by installing over $53 million of air traffic control and navigation capabilities for the Iraqi air force more than three years ago,” said U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. Robert Kane, director, Iraq Training and Advisory Mission – Air Force.
“Beginning in August of 2006, our governments, air forces and civilian contractors cooperated to not only fund the purchase of this highly technical equipment, but to train the Iraqi air force personnel how to use it and maintain it,” Kane continued. “I’m very proud to say that the Iraqi air force now possesses these capabilities.”
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FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION OR INTERVIEWS CONCERNING THIS RELEASE, CONTACT THE MULTI-NATIONAL SECURITY TRANSITION COMMAND – IRAQ PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICE BY E-MAIL AT PAO@IRAQ.CENTCOM.MIL OR BY PHONE AT DSN: (318) 852-1332 OR IRAQNA: 0790-194-0270. FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT OUR ORGANIZATION VISIT: WWW.MNSTCI.IRAQ.CENTCOM.MIL .
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