KYIV. Sept 24 (Interfax-AVN) - The coalition forces command in Iraq intends to buy operational shoulder-fired air defense systems such as Stinger, Strela, and Igla, as well as their missiles from the local population, the Ukrainian Defense Ministry press-service told Interfax-Military News Agency on Wednesday.
"Commanders of the Ukrainian 5th Detached Mechanized Brigade, responsible for defending the El-Kut City airfield, immediately disseminated this message via local mass media and the police," a press-service official said.
He noted that coalition forces officials would pay USD250 for each shoulder-fired air defense system.
According to him, the Iraqis were promised not to be prosecuted or punished, if they voluntarily surrender their shoulder-fired air defense systems.
"There were precedents of buying out lethal weapon systems from the locals before, but this is the first time it has been done on the state-scale under centralized supervision," the press- service official said.