Currently in Iraq there are around 25,000 Mercenaries from the United States, Chile, Ukraine, Fiji, Great Britain, Romania, South Africa, even Iraq itself.
They currently make up 15% of the armed forces in Iraq. Hired by between 80-100 private military firms from around the world to shield compounds from attack, keep safe workers who are rebuilding power stations and sewage plants, guard generals, protect military bases, and hold off insurgents so supplies can be delivered. They obviously make up a very large force within the middle east and other parts of the world.
Since they are hired by basic firms which don't have nearly as much money as a military does I was thinking no Tanks, APCs, Jets, Hummers. Just light transports such as the unarmed littlebirds and the technicals similar to what the insurgents have without the .50 on the back and rpk shoved out the windshield. Suburbans and other nice SUVs are used very often by mercenaries so maby that SUV on extract can be used a little more often with a couple modifications.
The smallarms used by mercenaries varies greatly but from what I've seen most of the time its customized AR15's, SAW's, SPR's(non suppressed), and sometimes AK74's/47's. I have yet to see, however, any form of a light AT.
Because they are hired by firms they are never put on the offensive but mostly set to guard checkpoints, defend convoys, and watch UN warehouses and buildings.
I think this faction would even out the power balance between US/UK vs Insurgents and be quite fun to play as. I was thinking of just placing them vs Insurgents because I don't think I've seen them try and take on any armys yet.
Here are a few links relating private security firms in Iraq:
http://www.youtube.com/results?search_q ... rch=Search
http://www.youtube.com/results?search_q ... rch=Search
Please post your opinions and other suggestions to this idea of a new faction.
