Other Names: Hydraulic Factory; Farouk Factory
Location: Dawra, Baghdad
Subordinate to: Military Industrialization Commission
Primary Function: Missile launcher production; tank transporter production; hydraulics

Description:
Al-Feda'a was a medium-sized of some 20 administrative buildings, research facilities, and workshops. It employed some 600 persons, including approximately 75 engineers.

The facility was deeply involved in pre-Desert Storm projects to develop launchers for the Al-Hussein and related missiles. Following the August 1989 explosion at al Qa-Qa (see al Qa-Qa entry under Missile Facilities), Project 144/5 activities were moved to this location in Dawra, a southern section of Baghdad. As the project was known as Al-Farouq, the factory took the name "Al-Farouq Factory."

At this location, Project 144/5 continued development of the Al-Walid indigenous TEL, the Al-Nida MEL, the launch support structures for the Al-Abed launch at Al-Anbar base, the fixed arm launcher project in western Iraq, the conversion of SA-2 propellant vehicles for Al-Hussein use, and other missile-related projects.

The site was bombed heavily during Desert Strom and many of its buildings and much of its equipment were destroyed. Following the war, the facility—now re-named Al-Fida'a—was involved in reconstruction work, with specific focus on repair of hydraulic systems around the country.

Beginning in 1997, Al-Fida'a began to assist Karama State Establishment in the development of the Al-Samoud launcher. It later became the location for primary production and assembly of the Al-Samoud 2 launcher. Similarly, and again in 1997, Al-Fida'a was tasked with developing the launcher for the Ababil-100/Al-Fateh; it was producing the launchers at the time of the second Gulf War.

In addition to these projects, Al-Fida'a also developed the launcher for the Ababil-50; produced a transport vehicle for the HY-2; developed and produced assembly and diss-assembly equipment for the Ababil-50; and worked on a number of civilian projects, such as car shock absorbers.

Key Sources: UN Inspection data; CNS UNMOVIC Inspection Database, <http://cns.miis.edu/Iraq-Inspections>.

	Updated October 2003