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Russia could supply fighter jets to Syria

Source:AFP Published: 2013-5-31 23:48:01

Russia may not deliver a hugely controversial consignment of S-300 air defense missile systems to the Syrian regime this year, but Moscow could supply 10 ultra-modern MiG-29 fighter jets to Damascus, according to Russian media reports on Friday.

Russia could supply 10 ultra-modern MiG-29 fighter jets to Syria under a possible contract being discussed with a visiting delegation from Damascus, Interfax reported.

The Russian news agency quoted MiG corporation director general Sergei Korotkov as saying that the details of the contract were now under discussion.

"There is a Syrian delegation in Moscow at the moment. We are determining the details of this contract," Interfax quoted Korotkov as saying.

"I think that they will be delivered to Syria," he added in apparent reference to the MiG-29 fighters, which are one of the most modern jets used in the Russian airforce today.

The Interfax and RIA Novosti said the contract involved 10 fighters.

The reports came as Russian newspapers rejected claims that S-300 air defense missile systems had already arrived in the Syria.

The Vedomosti daily cited a Russian defense industry source as saying it was unclear if the weapons would be delivered to Syria this year while the Kommersant daily quoted its source as saying that delivery was only planned in the second quarter of 2014.

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad appeared to imply in an interview with Al-Manar television broadcast Thursday that Russia had already delivered some of the promised ground-to-air S-300 missile systems.

AFP

 

Posted in: Mid-East