Development of Iraqi Ground Combat Systems

LT Youssef H. Aboul-Enein, MSC, USNR
Mid-East FAO

Through United Nations weapons inspections the world has been fixated on Iraq's program in pursuing weapons of mass destruction. Although eliminating nuclear, chemical and biological weapons from Baghdad's arsenal little attention is focused on Iraqi investments in the field of artillery, tank modification, and multiple rocket launch systems. The eight-year war with Iran has facilitated in Iraq's capability to locally produce field howitzers among other items needed for a ground offensive. This article will focus on Iraqi developments in ground combat systems and discuss their potential in the battlefield.

The Iran-Iraq War taught the Iraqis that artillery was the cheapest means to deal with the human-wave assaults sent by Khomeini. Iran's 3 to 1 advantage in human resources was countered with volumes of artillery and multiple rocket launch systems (MRLS). During the war Iraq would acquire artillery from Austria, South Africa and France and it became apparent to Baghdad that self-sufficiency in artillery projectile manufacturing and other armaments was a necessity. It is estimated that Iraqi forces expended 500,000 artillery shells per month in their war against Iran. By 1987, Iraq's Ministry of Industry and Military Industrialization (MIMI) purchased manufacturing rights to several weapons systems. That same year Iraq had become self-sufficient in manufacturing mortars, munitions, artillery shells, rocket propelled grenades and pipe launched rockets. This allowed for development of ballistic missile technology and advanced artillery systems. Iraq's fixation with artillery culminated in the attempt to build the Super Gun. The Super Gun was supposed to be 1000 mm, 107 meters high and required 10 tons of explosives to launch a projectile against Israel, Saudi Arabia or deep inside Iran.

Today Iraq can locally produce a Yugoslav version of the Russian 122-mm towed howitzer; the Iraqis call the local version the Saddam 122-mm howitzer. This field artillery piece has been modified from the original Russian version to fire 8 rounds per minute and has a maximum range of 17,133 meters. Baghdad has exhibited this howitzer in international arms fairs, particularly in the Middle East. In June 1988, the Iraqis signed an agreement with Dr. Gerald Bull's 'company Space Research Corporation to design and build two prototypes of the South African G-6 self-propelled howitzer. The result of this agreement is the Al-Majnoon a 155 mm howitzer and the Al-Faw, a 210-mm gun both with enhanced ammunition and a range of 40 kilometers. Lessons from Desert Storm has taught Baghdad that developing long-range guns is of little use if advanced tracking systems are not developed which enhances the accuracy of projectiles. The logical next step after manufacturing artillery is the local production of fire control systems.

Iraqi artillery development not only focuses on range but also focuses the life of the barrel. In contracts with Austria's Voest-Alpine maker of the 42 kilometer GH N-45, the Iraqis wanted them to develop a barrel that did not suffer a meltdown after 638 rounds. When the Austrian firm could not fulfill Iraq's demands for a barrel life of 1,500 rounds Baghdad went elsewhere. In following Middle-East defense trends in Arabic and International media during the Iran-Iraq War you see the same pattern of barrel life as an issue with the French AMX-30 tank.

Other developments of the Iraq's military industry include Multiple Rocket Launch Systems (MLRS). Local variants of the Luna-M (FROG-7A) have had their range extended from 70,000 to 90,000 meters. But the crown jewel in Iraq's MLRS manufacturing capability is the locally produced ABABEEL system. The 400 mm ABABEEL is a truck mounted MLRS with a four round capability. Each rocket fired by the ABABEEL carries a warhead capable of dispensing 300 anti-tank bomblets and 25 anti-tank minelets. According to Jane's, Iraq is experimenting with eight different MRLS using a wide range of technologies from around the globe to come up with an Iraqi system for mass-production and export.

In the area of tank modernization, the Iraqis are capable of locally modifying a wide range of Soviet and Chinese technologies to make it adaptable for their specific needs. The Russian T-72M1 Main Battle Tank (MBT) has been given additional armor in the front and rear to protect against HEAT projectiles. The T-69 Chinese Main Battle Tank have seen an addition of a 125 mm gun to upgrade its firepower to the level of a T-72 MBT and reduce its crew size to three. But no tank has been modified by Iraq more than the T-55, which China dumped on Iraq as a means of ridding itself of excess 1950s surplus materiel. The T-55 has seen more armor plating, the addition of 160-mm mortars, an observation mast and some Iraqi T-55 have been fitted with a 105-mm main gun. The addition of the 105-mm gun has converted this antiquated tank into a tank killer capable of firing armor-piercing rounds. Artillery research is conducted 25 kilometers South of Baghdad in the Al-Badr Factory in the town of Al-Yusufiyah.

These few publicized examples demonstrate Iraq's determination not only to develop NBC technology and ballistic missiles but also local production, modification and upgrade of advanced ground combat systems. Vigilance must be maintained in all realms of Iraq's military industrial complex. It is estimated Iraq spends 50 percent of its Gross Domestic Product on the military expenditures, it should not come as surprise if Baghdad manages to locally produce and export weapons such as light tanks and artillery systems in the future.

LT Youssef H. Aboul-Enein, MSC, USNR is a Navy Foreign Area Officer for Middle-East/North Africa and a 1997 Graduate Marine Corps University Amphibious School Non-Resident Program, as well as a 1998 Graduate Naval War College Non-Resident Command & Staff Program.

NOTES:

Friedman, Norman, Desert Victory, The War for Kuwait, Naval Institute Press, Annapolis, Maryland. 1991.

Jane's Armor and Artillery, 1996-97, 17th Edition.

Iraq, a Country Study, HQ Department of the Army, 4th Edtion, 1990.

Timmerman, Kenneth R. The Death Lobby: How the West Armed Iraq. Houghton-Miffin Company New York. 1991

Various Arabic Newspaper Reports Collected from 1993-1998 and Translated by the Author.

1999, Foreign Area Officer Association
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