13-12-2003, 09:16
Ministry of Defence
Diwaniyah, seeing the need to modernize it's military to perform more modern tasks. The Five Point Modernization Plan, named "First Five Point Modernization Plan for the Diwaniyan Army", created by both President Saddam Qassem and the Minister of Defence, has been put into effect today.
The Five Point Plan calls for the following:
1. Demobilization of 250,000 troops from the Diwaniyan Army. This will lower Diwaniyah's active military strength to 750,000 soldiers.
2. Increase of approximately $11 billion US dollars to the military budget. This will bring the budget for military expenditures up to $66 billion USD. Money spent on each soldier will be approximately $78,000 USD, up from the current $35,000 USD.
3. Retirement of the 500 T-55's and 1,000 T-62's still in active duty. The approximately 800 T-72M1's in active service to be slowly phased out over the next six months. Tanks to be replaced with locally made T-80UD Russian design.
4. Republican Guard's T-72M1 tanks to be retired immediatelly and replaced with T-90 tank.
5. Removal of all handheld AA SAM's. Republican Guard to be given SA-18 AA SAM gun, while regular army to receive SA-16 and SA-14's.
Diwaniyah, seeing the need to modernize it's military to perform more modern tasks. The Five Point Modernization Plan, named "First Five Point Modernization Plan for the Diwaniyan Army", created by both President Saddam Qassem and the Minister of Defence, has been put into effect today.
The Five Point Plan calls for the following:
1. Demobilization of 250,000 troops from the Diwaniyan Army. This will lower Diwaniyah's active military strength to 750,000 soldiers.
2. Increase of approximately $11 billion US dollars to the military budget. This will bring the budget for military expenditures up to $66 billion USD. Money spent on each soldier will be approximately $78,000 USD, up from the current $35,000 USD.
3. Retirement of the 500 T-55's and 1,000 T-62's still in active duty. The approximately 800 T-72M1's in active service to be slowly phased out over the next six months. Tanks to be replaced with locally made T-80UD Russian design.
4. Republican Guard's T-72M1 tanks to be retired immediatelly and replaced with T-90 tank.
5. Removal of all handheld AA SAM's. Republican Guard to be given SA-18 AA SAM gun, while regular army to receive SA-16 and SA-14's.