Libya eyes Russian fighter jets with $1b deal

Mon Oct 19, 2009

Libya is reportedly eying to purchase over 20 military aircraft, including fighter jets, from Russia in a deal estimated to be worth around one billion dollars.

Russia's Interfax news agency quotes an unnamed official on Monday as saying that following preliminary agreements, the complete deal is likely to be signed by 2010.

"Libya is planning to buy 12 to 15 Su-35 multi-purpose fighters, four Su-30s and six Yak-130 combat training planes from Russia," AFP quoted the source as saying, citing the Russian news agency.

The deal is said to have been put forth by North African state's leader Muammar Gadhafi during his visit to Moscow late last year.

"Many of the contracts are already fairly well worked out from a technical viewpoint and are practically ready for signing. The financial aspects still need to be resolved," the source added.

Earlier in October, Russia's state arms exporter Rosoboronexport said the country has five ongoing military contracts with Libya.

"The contracts involve military equipment for the Ground Forces and the Navy, including the modernization of T-72 tanks, and the general supply of spare parts for the above-mentioned branches of the Armed Forces," official RIA Novosti news agency quoted Alexander Mikheyev, deputy general director of the exporter, as saying.

The oil-rich Libya, which has had decades of arms and military cooperation with Russia, built its military arsenal with significant purchases from the Soviet Union in the last year of the Cold War.

Source: PressTV.
Link: http://edition.presstv.ir/detail/109086.html.