Iraq expected to buy Russian S-400 air defense systems very soon.

According to an announcement by the Russian Ministry of Defense, S-400 Triumf air defense systems (SA-21 Growler in NATO designation) will be sold to Iraq without any delay, as soon as the Iraqi government submits a request in this way. A strong U.S. opposition is already rising.

S-400 Triumf (Picture source: Army Recognition)

“Russia’s ambassador to Iraq, Maxim Maximov, says Moscow is ready to provide Baghdad with advanced S-400 air defense systems as soon as the country presents an official request for military equipment” the news agency Aviapro said. “The Russian side has not yet received an official request in this regard. There is no doubt that recent events have generated increased interest in the procurement of air defense systems, especially the S-400 system,” Al-Ahad quoted Maksimov as saying.

Comments were made after the Iraqi Parliament’s Security and Defense Committee submitted an in-depth study earlier this month to acting Prime Minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi asking for a long-range missile defense system. This occurs as a few weeks ago, the U.S. deployed Patriot air defense systems to Iraq, thereby intending to prevent the local deployment of Russian S-400s. But this doesn’t appear as an obstacle for the Iraqi government which already expressed an interest in the Russian Triumf.