Baghdad to establish 'advanced' base for Iraq-made weaponry

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — Baghdad is working to establish a base for Iraq-made weapons ahead of a defense exhibition next year, a military official told Iraq’s official al-Sabah newspaper.

The new base will aim to cut down on weapon imports and supply security forces with advanced weapons and equipment.

“The authority is working tirelessly to develop military industries through new production lines and contracting with international companies,” Maytham Najim Abid,  Director of Media and Relations at the General Authority for Military Industries told al-Sabah.

The Iraqi parliament passed a bill last year to establish a domestic arms manufacturing authority to “support the national economy” and depend less on foreign imports.

The move comes ahead of a security and defense exhibition that will be hosted by Baghdad next April, to be attended by 83 international and five local companies, according to al-Sabah.

“The aim of the exhibition is to transfer modern and advanced technology to the security services and military forces with the countries and companies acquainting themselves with the capabilities of the Iraqi war industries,” said exhibition director Falah al-Shammari.  

Iraq secured $10 million in Iranian weapons in 2014, according to a 2020 report by the US-based Atlantic Council.

Iraq is also a major recipient of Russian arms in the Middle East, accounting for 29 percent of exports from Moscow.