Iraqi air force to receive air training academy

Feb. 12 (UPI) — Spartan Air Academy Iraq has been awarded a contract by the U.S. Army to establish an air training academy for the Iraqi air force.

The deal, announced Friday by the Department of Defense, is valued at $45 million under a firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity contract.

The agreement calls for Spartan Air Academy Iraq, of Addison, Texas, to establish a flight training school at Balad Air Base, which is located about 40 miles north of Baghdad.

The academy is set to be complete in February 2019.

More than $9.9 million will be obligated to Spartan Air Academy Iraq at the time of award from foreign military sale funds, according to the Pentagon.

Last month, the U.S. Air Force awarded Sallyport Global Holdings a $400 million contract for base operations and security for Iraq’s F-16 program.

Over the last few years, Iraq has been steadily purchasing F-16 fighter jets to increase the capabilities of its air force. The Iraqi air force accepted the first of 36 F-16 Block 52 fighters from Lockheed Martin in 2014.