"Russia to sell MiG-29 M/M2 fighters to Syria" Topic

MOSCOW (AP) — Russia's MiG aircraft maker said Friday it plans to sign a new agreement to ship at least 10 fighter jets to Syria, a move that comes amid international criticism of earlier Russian weapons deals with Syrian President Bashar Assad's regime.

MiG's director general, Sergei Korotkov, said a Syrian delegation was in Moscow to discuss the details of a new contract for the delivery of MiG-29 M/M2 fighters. In remarks carried by Russian news agencies, he said Syria wants to buy "more than 10" such fighters, but wouldn't give the exact number.

Russian media reports say Syria placed an order a few years ago for 12 MiG-29 M/M2 fighters with an option of buying another 12. The Stockholm Peace Research Institute also has reported that Russia planned to provide Syria with 24 of the aircraft.

The MiG-29 M/M2 is an advanced version of the MiG-29 twin-engine fighter jet, which has been a mainstay of the Soviet and Russian air force since mid-1980s. Syria had about 20 fighters of the original make among scores of other Soviet- and Russian-built aircraft.

Other Russian weapons deals have apparently been put on hold during Syria's civil war, including a recent contract to deliver Yak-130 combat training jets that could also be used for ground attacks.

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Do the Russians supply these aircraft with standard equipment, or do they strip out "the good stuff"?

The previous batch of Fulcrums did not come with the full complement of weapons and equipment.

Kick the tires and see if the odometer has been turned back.

How is Syria paying for all the new equipment they've been ordering? I'd certainly be wary about extending credit.

Sugar cane? Oh, wait. That's Cuba.

I expect the Iranians are paying the Russians in a good hard currency.

Oh yeah, there's an embargo on Iran. Pfft. Fat lot of good that ever did when someone is pumping oil.

Show me the CarFax.

Oil, access to the Mediterranean Sea, basing for their naval vessels in the aforementioned sea (which the Russians covet immensely), "friendship" and "goodwill", etc.

The bigger question is who is trained to fly the fulcrums? I can't imagine they have too many current and qualified guys.

Probably a few Syrians, and Iranians, but I suspect far more Russian pilots, who want some air time……

IIRC, the Syrians already have Fulcrums. The step up to the M/M2 would be quite feasible.

Bluntly, anything that puts down the Al-Qaeda-sponsored rebellion is quite welcome.

Seems a bit of a waste to me, from a budgeting standpoint, since every time they get in a scrap with their neighbor, they just end up with the aluminum recycling vendors.