Rusija obustavila isporuku MiG-31E Siriji

[dexy]

20.05.2009.

Rusija je obustavila isporuku aviona MiG-31E Siriji zbog, kako se nezvanicno saznaje, finansijskih problema Sirije. Po ugovoru koji je potpisan 2007. godine Sirija je trebalo da dobije 8 aviona MiG-31E a vrednost ugovora je izmedju 400 i 500 miliona dolara.

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Russia freezes warplane contract with Syria - report
20/05/200913:51

MOSCOW, May 20 (RIA Novosti) - Russia has put on a hold a contract to deliver MiG-31E Foxhound interceptor-fighters to Syria, a Russian business daily reported on Wednesday, citing defense-industry sources.

According to Kommersant, the $400-500 million contract for the delivery of eight MiG-31E aircraft was signed in 2007. Since production of MiG-31E's had stopped in 1994, Syria was to receive retrofitted aircraft from Russia's Air Force reserves.

There has been no official comment on the decision to freeze the contract, but an industry source quoted by the daily said the contract was terminated due to Damascus's financial problems.

In the winter of 2005, Russia forgave 70% of Syria's debt, which at the time stood at $13.4 billion. After that Damascus still owed Moscow $3.6 billion.

Later in the year, Russia resumed military cooperation with Syria, delivering, in particular, Strelets surface-to-air missile systems.

Earlier this month, some Russian and foreign media reported Belarus was planning to sell S-300 surface-to-air missiles and Iskander tactical missile systems to Iran, and said that Tehran had arranged to transfer some of the systems to Syria. However, the Belarusian president denied the country had any plans to sell weapons to Syria or Iran.

Izvor: RIA Novosti

[dexy]

Pored pretpostavke da je u pitanju nedostatak novca postoji i spekulacija da je isporuka otkazana zbog pritiska Izraela:

Russia freezes deal to deliver MIG-31E planes to Syria - report

20 May, 11:06 PM

Russia has frozen its deal to ship eight MIG-31E fighter-interceptor planes to Syria, a newspaper has reported suggesting either shortage of funds on Syria’s side, or pressure from Israel.

According to a report published Wednesday in Kommersant daily, the $500 million contract to supply Syria with Russian fighter-interceptor planes was signed in early 2007.

The Sokol aviation plant began works on the modernization of MIG-31s from Russian Air Force reserves in the summer of 2007. However in April 2009 the works had to be stopped due to “absence of contract”, the paper reports citing sources at the aviation plant. No official comments were available.

According to a source close to the Rosoboronexport, Russia’s state enterprise responsible for import and export of weapons and military products, has told Kommersant that the contract had to be frozen due to pressure from Israel.

“In a similar way, when Russia signed the deal with Syria for delivery of Iskander-E missile complexes in 2005. The Israelis put pressure on Russia, and the contract was annulated.”

However a different source at the Defense Ministry, also cited by the paper, said the contract was called off because Syria could not afford the planes.

In winter 2005 Russia wrote off 70 percent of Syria’s debt, but Damask still owed Russia $3.6 billion.