Unit 9: M60A1Rise
Unit 10: M60A3-TTS
I had requested, previously in this thread, an initial availability date set to end 2008. That was in light of a proposed deal for the purchase of a large number of M60 tanks.
So far however no such tanks have been delivered and no further talks have been reported about it. There have also more recently been rumors about a large order of upgraded T-72s but this has quickly turned out to be just a plant by a contractor.
So at this point there are no M60s in iraqi service and no public plans to aquire them. Yet it still cannot be ruled out that some will be aquired at some point.
I suggest the initial availability date to be moved from current 10/2008 to 1/2012 or such and wait and see what happens.
In the meantime Iraq is purchasing a few more vanilla T-72M/M1
and crew training for Abrams tanks has begun.
http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/...or-Iraq-05013/
Some have noted that it is likely that in addition to the 140-280Abrams already ordered more will be loaned from the US Army as US forces in Iraq are reduced (that would also explain a reduced interest for gap filler vehicles like the M60).
Unit 608: M1A1 Abrams
In light of the above and following info I would suggest initial availability date to be anticipated to 1/2011 from current 1/2012.
http://www.longwarjournal.org/multim...-Equipment.pdf
According to this the newly built Abrams could be delivered as early as late 2010 and the loaned ones (if that goes on) would available soon too. So beginning of 2011 should be prudent for the moment.