PC-7s for Saddam Hussein and Ruhollah Khomeini
Goods category: Special military goods
In January 1980, Pilatus began delivering 52 PC-7s to Iraq. Deliveries continued after the Iran–Iraq War began in September 1980.
Iran acquired 50 Pilatus PC-7s. In 1983, Iranian pilots were trained in Switzerland; Swiss military pilots helped ferry aircraft. The deals with both sides in the Iran–Iraq War prompted diplomatic protests.
On 16 March 1988, the Iraqi air force attacked Halabja with chemical agents, killing several thousand people. There are indications that Pilatus PC-7s were used in the attack.
Effect of the proposed War Materiel Act revision
In Switzerland, special military goods (unlike in most other countries) are not subject to the War Materiel Act, but to the much weaker Goods Control Act.
Countries
Iraq
IranConflicts
Companies
Time period
PC-7 deliveries from 1980; Iran deal in 1983; Halabja debate in 1988
Sources
- GSoA-Zitig Nr. 138, Juni 2009, S. 5
- La Liberté, 26.10.2009, S. 8: Exportation d’armes — Les couacs de l’histoire suisse (Samuel Jordan; mit Interview Simon Plüss)
- WOZ Die Wochenzeitung, 07.05.2015, S. 1: Waffenhandel — Die lukrative Pilatus-Methode (Jan Jirát)
- Tribune de Genève, 24.05.1997: Le Pilatus est dans le collimateur des tiers-mondistes depuis vingt ans (Hauptartikel: O. G.; weitere Texte: C. T.; Foto: Olivier Heeb / AURA)
- Friedenspolitik Nr. 46, 1988
- Zentrum für Militärgeschichte und Sozialwissenschaften der Bundeswehr: Giftgasangriff auf Halabdscha am 16.03.1988
- Tages-Anzeiger, 30.11.1988 (in der zeitgenössischen Faktensammlung genannt; Original nicht eingesehen)