MNF Transition Soldiers Deliver Toyota SUV’s
The delivery of nine different armor laden Toyota SUV’s were received this last week by the Iraqi Ministry of the Interior. The nine vehicles represent a little over a million dollars of investment from the Foreign Military Sales program. The value for the Toyota Vehicle shipment came to $1,082,000 dollars total and is an investment for the future of Iraq.
The new vehicles are standard Toyota SUV’s that were retro fitted with various armor plating and security enhancements in Dubai. Different MOI directorates including the Iraqi Police Department will use them.
“We have been excited about the impending arrival of these vehicles for quite a while,” said Colonel Ishmel of the MOI. “We can provide even more and improved security using these vehicles,” said Colonel Ishmel.
These are just a portion of the many vehicles that the MOI ministry will be receiving in the year 2008. There is an additional 90-armored vehicles, and around 2,600 Iraqi Police patrol cars are slated to arrive. These deliveries are all being conducted through the Foreign Military Sales Program. This program is proving to be a very valuable source of equipment for the government of Iraq.
The most attractive thing about the FMS procedure for the Iraqi Government is the package concept. If the Iraqi Government using the FMS program purchases a certain vehicle, then training manuals, delivery, shipment, and spare parts are also included in the deal as a package arrangement.
Other projects that are slated to be conducted using the foreign military sales concept include vehicles for border stations, further police vehicles, and education and Baghdad police college equipment and vehicles. Over 126 different countries participate in the Foreign Military sales program in Iraq.