The Deputy Commander of the Air Force Revealed to NINA's Correspondent From Seoul a New Strategic Direction For Iraq at Int'l Arms Fairs
Seoul/ NINA/- NINA's correspondent- Mohammed Hamid-- In a move that reflects a clear shift in Iraq’s defense strategy, Deputy Commander of the Air Force, Lieutenant General Pilot Khaled Mirdas, announced a new strategic approach to Iraq’s participation in international defense exhibitions, focusing on maximizing and upgrading existing military assets before pursuing any new acquisitions.
The statement came as Mirdas headed the Iraqi delegation to ADEX 2025 in Seoul, South Korea. In an interview with the National Iraqi News Agency (NINA), he explained that the main objective of the visit is to explore the latest South Korean defense technologies and complete the operational requirements of the KAI T-50 Golden Eagle aircraft, stressing that the delegation’s participation does not aim at signing any new contracts at this stage.
Lieutenant General Mirdas outlined Iraq’s development strategy, which centers on upgrading the T-50 aircraft from an advanced training platform to a fully capable fighter jet through:
He added: Once pilot training is complete, Iraq plans to arm the fleet with conventional and precision-guided bombs, leveraging the aircraft’s high-accuracy targeting systems.
Mirdas explained: Preparations are underway to conduct live firing tests, while awaiting the delivery of official armament manuals from the Korean manufacturer.
He said: The aircraft’s ability to serve both as a trainer and a combat platform with minimal modifications gives the Iraqi Air Force enhanced operational flexibility and value.
Mirdas affirmed that the South Korean side has pledged to fulfill all the requirements of the existing contract with Iraq, highlighting the strong bilateral cooperation in the defense sector. He also revealed Iraq’s intention to pursue a second T-50 contract following the successful completion of the first in April this year.
Beyond its engagement with South Korea, the Iraqi delegation also held introductory meetings with counterparts from the United States, Jordan, and Algeria. These interactions open the door to broader international military and technical cooperation in the future.
Mirdas concluded by emphasizing that the Iraqi Air Force is undergoing “significant development and has a promising future,” thanks to direct support from the Ministry of Defense and the Army General Staff. He stressed that Iraq’s new strategic approach to defense exhibitions aims to enhance national capabilities in a measured and effective way, building a modern, capable, and deterrent air force.
The ADEX 2025 exhibition kicked off on Sunday in South Korea, hosting 600 companies from 35 countries. It is one of Asia’s largest and most comprehensive aerospace and defense events, featuring air shows, advanced technologies, and a wide range of defense products, including fighter jets, helicopters, unmanned aircraft, and land and naval defense systems.
Iraq’s participation reflects a clear and deliberate defense vision focused on strategic planning and maximizing current investments, laying the groundwork for a carefully planned expansion of its air power capabilities in the future./ End
