Mexico may buy Russian Fighter Jets

[RAPTOR]

Mexico in talks with Moscow over fighter jets


MOSCOW, May 2 (AFP) May 02, 2006
The Mexican armed forces are in talks with Moscow to buy about a dozen Sukhoi Su-27 fighter jets, a Russian newspaper on Tuesday quoted Ivan Goncharov, deputy head of Russian arms export agency Rosoboronexport, as saying.
Mexico hopes this year to acquire a squadron of 10 to 12 jets to intercept the drug traffickers' planes, daily Vedomosti said.
Russia's Su-27 aircraft are competing with Sweden's Gripen jets for the contract, the paper said.
It quoted an unnamed source at aircraft manufacturer Sukhoi as confirming that talks were underway. But the source voiced concerns that the United States might object to the use of Russian military aircraft by its neighbour.
Last month, Indonesia had said it was also looking to buy six Sukhoi jets from Russia. Jakarta was forced to look for new arms suppliers after the United States imposed restrictions on military sales because of rights abuses allegedly committed by the Indonesian armed forces in East Timor in 1991.


Source--AFP



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[RAPTOR]

Mexico selects Sukhoi Su-27 for strategic surveillance


The Mexican navy has selected Sukhoi’s Su-27 over the Saab/BAE Systems Gripen to equip its first air defence unit.
Head of the service Adm Armando Sánchez Moreno says the new fleet of 10 fighters will enable the navy to carry out “strategic surveillance” over key areas of Mexico’s coastline.
Preliminary selection work was initiated in early 2005, and the navy is now entering into contract negotiations with Russia’s Rosboronexport agency for the purchase of eight single-seat Su-27s and two Su-27UB two-seat trainers. Local sources indicate that the entire package – which also includes spare parts, tools and personnel training – is worth slightly over $410 million.