KYIV. May 21 (Interfax-AVN) - Ukraine is preparing a second batch of 62 BTR-4 armored personnel carriers for delivery to Iraq. The armored vehicles were assembled in Kharkiv under an over $550 million contract for supplying Ukrainian military hardware to Iraq, a source familiar with the implementation of the contract, told Interfax-AVN.
"The second batch of 62 BTR-4 armored personnel carriers is to be delivered to Iraq soon. During the acceptance procedures the customer praised the armored vehicles' technical characteristics," he said, adding that, "the parties' cooperation under the contract is proceeding constructively."
Media reports claimed a few days ago that the delivery of this batch to Iraq could be derailed, reportedly because Iraqi experts uncovered flaws in the firing systems - ZTM-1 automatic cannons, installed in the armored personnel carriers.
The Ukrainian sate arms trader Ukrspetsexport's subsidiary Progress, concluded an over $550 million contract with Iraq in 2009, one in a series of military-technical cooperation agreements between the two countries.
The contract envisions the supply of 420 BTR-4 armored personnel carriers, six Antonov An-32 light transport aircraft, and the extension of maintenance services for the purchased aircraft.
The first batch of 26 BTR-4's, two technical and repair vehicles, and two facilities for training personnel to handle the armored vehicles, was delivered to Iraq in spring 2011. Four An-32 planes were supplied to Iraq in 2011-12: the first two in 2011 and the other two in 2012. The delivery of the aircraft is expected to finish in June.