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Back in July 2008, the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency announced about $10.9 billion in equipment requests from Iraq. When the DSCA says "request," it means "request to buy"; all foreign countries must submit official requests for military equipment exports via the DSCA, as part of the USA's weapons export control laws.
At the time, the requested equipment included about 400 LAV-25s and related wheeled armored personnel carriers, similar to the ones the US Marines use; 160 M1117 Guardian armored cars like the ones used by American MPs, 140 M1A1M Abrams tanks, 24 armed scout helicopters, 6 C-130J Hercules transports, a bunch of trucks and support vehicles in various sizes, and a valuable chunk of military base construction for Iraqi forces.
On Wednesday, the DSCA announced a new round of Iraqi DSCA requests....
The M1A1M request was updated slightly re: some of the support equipment; A large order of M16/M4s and related small arms; fast setup command posts; about 23 armed 100-250 foot patrol boats; the Iraqi National Police want 400 M1117s and 400 Stryker wheeled APCs, an amount that would finish equipping 2 mechanized divisions; and the USA's recently-canceled Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter looks set for revival via Iraqi orders. Finally, 20 of the T-6A turboprop trainer used by American forces will be fielded by the IqAF, along with 36 AT-6B attack versions as counterinsurgency aircraft.
All of this points to a government that's gearing up to do exactly what Michael Totten says it's preparing to do: exercise full internal control over its territory by the time the treaty with the USA expires, and most American forces have gone home. The support vehicle orders have been ramping up for a little while, and they'll need more if they want to be able to keep their forces supplied; that will be a good indicator of the Iraqi Army's real professionalism over the next year or so.
The AT-6Bs would be the first actual Iraqi combat aircraft since Saddam Hussein's regime. Brazil's Super Tucano was a contender, and would have been a much better choice in that class. American isn't always better, though the Iraqis seem to be behaving that way with their purchases. Still, it's a good sign that the Iraqis decided to go after a useful surveillance/ light attack platform first, before going for the prestige buy of high-end jets. Those will be needed, too, of course; but the trainers and COIN aircraft need to come first in a serious military.
I like the Super Tucano as well, but on the whole that seems like a reasonable set of purchases with a slight American bias. Watching the American equipment in action will do that to you though.
I'd like to see about 200 RG-31 Nyala's on purchase list as well, but they may be and just aren't listed because they are buying direct from South Africa. Actually, I might like to see alot fewer M-1117's and more RG-31's. Again, not everything American is better, and the HUMVEE is a great AT utility truck but not really an urban patrol vehicle.
celebrim,
IPC of South Africa designed an RG-31 like vehicle called the REVA. They have a factory in Baghdad as well, and the Iraqi police use them. If Iraq decides they want small MRAPs, that's very likely to be it.
Iraq has also purchased a limited number of ILAV 'Badger' Cougar derivatives, for use as larger specialist vehicles and in heaver threat zones. Less than I would have thought, actually.
Beyond that, the M1117 armored car is much better than a Hummer... but it did fail out of American MRAP testing once the 30-50 pound explosives got trundled out. Like the Stryker, it is best described as "somewhat mine resistant." The turret with a .50 cal browning and 40mm automatic grenade machine gun is kind of handy, though.