DIC details its production lines, contribution to meet the needs of security forces

INA-  Baghdad


Defense Industries Commission DIC confirmed that it has production lines for pistols, rifles, reconnaissance aircraft and armored vehicles, revealing that the security forces will be equipped with 25 thousand pistols and 190 aircraft and armored vehicles during 2023, while pointing out that the next year's plan will witness an expansion in the production of light equipment in partnership with the private sector.

Mustafa Ati, head of DIC, said in an interview with the Iraqi News Agency (INA), that "the Commission produces weapons, ammunition, light equipment, as well as reconnaissance aircraft, that the security forces have been equipped with 10 reconnaissance aircrafts and the Commission is about to produce a new type of aircraft and we are working with the security forces to find out what their requirements are in order to meet them and provide the important equipment they need".

Combat vehicles

With regard to combat vehicles, Ati pointed out that "the DIC has equipped the security forces with 180 armored vehicles and additional workshops have been opened to increase the production capacity of these vehicles and we have a plan to produce new armored vehicles to meet the need of the security forces".


Production of light equipment

Mustafa Ati, head of DIC, said that "the Commission continues to produce pistols and light ammunition for western and eastern weapons, and we have one of the largest factories in the country concerning infrastructure, production lines and inspection funded by the government under the guidance and support of the prime minister," pointing out that "the localization of the entire military industry is an important and great achievement for the state and the Iraqi government."


Strategy of DIC

He added that "the strategy of Commission includes seeking to reduce state spending on the import of weapons, which reduces the burden and pressure on the budget, and at this level, we have opened the door of participation with the private sector according to the Companies Law No. 22 of 1997, and there is a great demand for actual participation with the DIC in military production as well as civilian".

He continued that "the size of the participation is very excellent, and on this level we have localized armored vehicles factories, light weapons, mortar rockets, thermal cameras and binoculars, and the Commission aims, within the study drawn for it, to open wide areas for the private sector to localize the military industry.


Localization of industry

Mustafa Ati explained that "achieving the goal of localizing the industry requires complete technology, so when establishing any factory, we were keen to choose an advanced international company in the field of armaments, obtain a license for manufacturing, technology, designs and machines used, and train cadres jointly, and this is what was done at the Babylon Factory for the production of pistols; with the implementation of this strategy, it is possible to say that all products of DIC are technically and internationally approved."


Plan for 2024

Regarding the plan for next year, Ati explained, "the Commission's plan for 2024 includes the production of mortar rockets, armored vehicles, binoculars, thermal cameras and reconnaissance drones, and we have started working on reviving the artillery industry, including heavy artillery, and our plan for 2024 will witness the expansion of light equipment production in partnership with the private sector to meet the large demand by the security forces, as well as we will witness the opening of a medium equipment factory as well as the addition of a new model and a new type of combat armored vehicles and our ambition for 2024 is to produce electronic devices, communication devices, civil products".


Mortar rockets

Regarding the production of mortar rockets, the head of Commission said that "this year witnessed the completion of the factory for their production, and we started production actually during the current month after we completed the production lines, and the fact that the consumption of mortar rockets by the security forces is limited made us able to meet the full need".


Babylon Pistol 

He added that "the production of the Babylon pistol was carried out in partnership with one of the companies and businessmen, an integrated factory was established and continues the production process, we directly contracted with the Ministry of interior which received 25 thousand pieces within the contract".

He stressed that "the annual production capacity of the factory is much more than this number and that we are able to meet the need of the security forces, as well as we have started manufacturing rifles, and the Commission will have a contract with the Ministry of Interior to equip them with large quantities, we are working continuously to reach the stage of achieving self-sufficiency of weapons and equipment needed by the security forces".