Illustrative image. (Roketsan)
Iraq is in the final stages of purchasing 20 air defense systems from Turkey, the country’s Deputy Army Chief of Staff for Operations, Lt. Gen. Saad Harbiye, revealed on May 6.
Speaking to the National on the sideline of the SAHA 2026 International Defense and Aerospace Exhibition in the city of Istanbul, Harbiye said that Iraqi airspace had recently been “filled with drones,” adding that the new systems would help intercept threats targeting oil facilities, diplomatic sites and other critical infrastructure.
The Iraqi military commander emphasized that counter-drone defense has become a top priority for Iraq, hinting that the shift is a result of the American-Israeli war on Iran.
“Turkish defense systems are highly advanced and cost-effective and we are neighboring countries,” he said, without disclosing the contract’s value or the specific Turkish companies involved.
Harbiye added that discussions on acquiring Turkish air defense systems began before the war, but recent sustained drone and missile strikes since February have made the need more urgent.
A contract with Turkey has already been signed and Iraqi and Turkish officials are currently working on financial arrangements, he revealed.
While Harbiye didn’t provide any details, based on what he said it is clear that Iraq is purchasing short-range air defense systems, most likely Sungur which is already being mass produced in Turkey.
Sungur is manufactured by Turkey’s defense giant Roketsan. The system, typically mounted on BMC Vuran 4×4 tactical wheeled armored vehicle, is armed with four infrared homing missiles with a range of eight kilometers and a flight ceiling of four kilometers. It is equipped with an electro-optical targeting system.
The system was developed to deal with low flying aerial targets, including drones, which makes it suitable for Iraq’s current needs.
It’s worth noting that Iraq has been working to strengthen its air defenses for the last few years, but very little has been achieved in this regard. The country’s airspace remains very much out of control. Israeli warplanes flew freely over Iraq during the 12-day war on Iran of last year, and the more recent war with the Islamic Republic.
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