The US Air Force has granted Colorado-based Vectrus Systems a new contract worth about $252 million to provide support for Iraq’s F-16 fighter jet program, following a similar $118-million agreement finalized in June.
The deal includes base operations, life-support functions, and security services at Martyr Brigadier General Ali Flaih Air Base in Salah al-Din province, with work scheduled to run through September 24, 2026.
Extending Vectrus’ involvement through 2026 continues a decade of US contractor assistance at the installation, helping sustain Iraqi F-16 readiness despite previous disruptions linked to militia attacks and temporary contractor withdrawals.
Iraq operates 34 F-16s, first delivered in 2014 during Operation Inherent Resolve, when the US-led coalition began strikes against Islamic State targets. The fleet is based 60–70 kilometers north of Baghdad and functions as the country’s primary hub for fixed-wing strike missions.
