Iraq seeks to produce medium-range weapons through the private sector for the first time in history.
Mustafa Ati Hassan, director of the Iraqi Weapons and Military Equipment Manufacturing Board, told Sabah newspaper that several weapons factories are scheduled to be opened in the coming months.
He said Iraq has more than one factory to produce light weapons and armored vehicles, and in the future can produce medium weapons.
He explained these projects are generally not funded by the government but are implemented through private sector investors, which he said is a government program to involve the private sector in weapons production.
Hassan said the ministries of defense and interior will conduct quality and durability tests for the weapons manufactured by private sector investors.
He stressed that Iraqi factories currently produce 9mm cannons, Kalashnikovs, US M4 rifles, and there are mortar factories of all sizes.
According to Hassan, the Military Industrial Board has 23,000 members but less than a quarter of this number was needed, adding they have signed a contract to generate revenue worth 40 billion dinars.
