Ukraine has signed the first of a set of large-scale contracts to supply arms worth over $550 million to Iraq, Stepan Havrysh, the first deputy of the National Security and Defense Council secretary, said at a press conference at the presidential secretariat on Friday.
According to Havrysh, state enterprise Progres, a subsidiary of state arms exporter Ukrspetsexport, signed the contract on behalf of the Ukrainian side.
The contract foresees the supply of over 400 armored vehicles within 3-3.5 years, in particular, BTR-4 armored cars, about ten An-32 aircraft, and providing services on aircraft repairs.
Over 80 Ukrainian enterprises will take part in realizing the contract. The major participants in the contract will be Kharkiv Morozov Machine Building Design Bureau and Kharkiv-based state enterprise Malyshev Plant.
According to Havrysh, the process of signing the contract started three years ago and became a "follow-up" of Ukraine’s participating in the peacekeeping mission in Iraq.
Havrysh said that Russia and Poland were also viewed as potential suppliers of weapons to Iraq.
Havrysh said that the role of the head of state in signing the contract was very important, as he secured the visit of National Security and Defense Council Secretary Raisa Bohatyriova to Iraq.
Havrysh expressed regret for the position of the cabinet in the deal, due to which, he said, at a certain stage talks with Iraq were suspended and the signing by the government of a guarantee letter for the contract was blocked.
