Russia freezes supplies of fighter jets to Syria: report

[Metallic]

MOSCOW, May 20, 2009 (AFP) - Russia has suspended supplies to Syria of MiG-31 fighter jets under possible pressure from Israel or due to Syria's inability to pay for the planes, Kommersant reported Wednesday, citing sources.

The 400-500 million-dollar contract for the delivery of eight MiG-31s was inked in early 2007, the paper said.

But work on the modernisation of the planes at the Sokol aviation plant in the Russian city of Nizhny Novgorod halted last month, Kommersant quoted sources at the plant as saying.

A spokesman for Russian arms exporter Rosoboronexport, Vyacheslav Davidenko, declined to comment on the report Wednesday, dismissing it as "rumours."

A source close to the arms exporter told Kommersant the contract had been frozen under pressure from Israel as the weapon sales could offset the balance of power in the region.

"A similar situation occurred with deliveries of Iskander missiles to Syria. Israel at the time exerted massive pressure on Russia, and the contract was officially cancelled," the paper quoted the source as saying.

However, Kommersant also cited an unnamed government official who said the contract was suspended because Damascus could no longer afford the planes.

In 2005, Moscow forgave 70 percent of Syria's total debt of 13.4 billion dollars, Kommersant said.


Source: AFP

 

[brilTek]

No Such Agreement Exists: MIG
Moscow, 20th May 2009 -Russian Aircraft Corporation (MiG) officially states that Russia and Syria never signed a contract for the delivery of MiG-31E-type aircraft to Syrian Arab Republic. The information published by mass media on either signing or suspending such a contract is incorrect

The press release was quoted to the press service spokesperson of MiG, Uvarov.A.

A section of the western media had reported last week that Russia had contracted in 2007 to sell MiG31E and MiG-29 fighters to Syria under a deal financed by Iran.

The report speculated that the MiG-31E were the same fighters technologically which are being offered to India as the MiG-35.

The MiG-35 is competing with the F-16, the SAAB Gripen, the Dassault, the F/A 18 and Eurofighter for India's $2 billion fighter deal to buy 126 aircraft.

Perhaps MiG Corporation feels the report will affect its pitch in India.

Source: DefenceWorld

 

[HAIDER]

piece of junk, very old, its better to buy somthing else rather then upgrading this cold war bomber. Syeria don't need this anyway. Plus need separate gas station to fill the tank, maneuvering is almost non.But upgrade radar has comparable to any modern day NATO bomber.

 

[maverick2009]

If the Russians aren,t careful thy will lose every major Arms market in the world .

 

[booo]

piece of junk, very old, its better to buy somthing else rather then upgrading this cold war bomber. Syeria don't need this anyway. Plus need separate gas station to fill the tank, maneuvering is almost non.But upgrade radar has comparable to any modern day NATO bomber.

bomber???

 

[gubbi]

No Such Agreement Exists: MIG

The report speculated that the MiG-31E were the same fighters technologically which are being offered to India as the MiG-35.

The MiG-35 is competing with the F-16, the SAAB Gripen, the Dassault, the F/A 18 and Eurofighter for India's $2 billion fighter deal to buy 126 aircraft.

Source: DefenceWorld

I dont know where you got this information from, but MiG-31 not= MiG-35.Both are entirely different class of planes.
A simple google search of MiG-31 & MiG-35 pics would help a lot in differentiating these planes.

 

[Guba]

piece of junk, very old, its better to buy somthing else rather then upgrading this cold war bomber. Syeria don't need this anyway. Plus need separate gas station to fill the tank, maneuvering is almost non.But upgrade radar has comparable to any modern day NATO bomber.

Mig-31 is Interceptor, modern version of Mig-25 (the fastest fighter jet)
Mig-31 primary objective is intercept Bombers, and fighter-jets,

Isreali fighters can fly openly over Syria, distroy nuclear reactors and Hezbollah camps, Syrian airforce needs something like this to keep atleast Damascus safe from isreali aggression,

 

[brilTek]

(a)I dont know where you got this information from, but (b) MiG-31 not= MiG-35.Both are entirely different class of planes.
A simple google search of MiG-31 & MiG-35 pics would help a lot in differentiating these planes.

a) well, i said its from DefenceWorld....check out the link
Source: Russia denies selling MIG-31E to syria

b) Thats not satated by me if you read clearly.....its conainted in the report which is circulated about russia-syria mig deals.