Russian fighter planes sale to Syria alarms Israel Wednesday, June 20, 2007
JERUSALEM: Israel is concerned about reported Russian deliveries of advanced MiG-31 fighter planes to its enemy Syria as part of an armaments drive, the top-selling Hebrew daily reported on Tuesday.
The MiG-31, considered one of the best fighters in the world, can carry guided missiles with a range of more than 200 kilometres (125 miles) and is capable of striking 24 different targets simultaneously, Yediot Aharonot said.
“This information is more concerning when put in the context of massive armaments purchases made recently by the Syrians,” Yuval Steinitz, an MP from Israel’s right-wing opposition Likud party, was quoted as telling the daily.
“If Syria acquires the MiG-31 we can no longer rule out the idea that this country is preparing for war,” said Steinitz, a former chairman of Israel’s defence and foreign affairs parliamentary committee. afp
Re: Russian fighter planes sale to Syria alarms Israel
Are you sure that is true? I bet it could be MiG-29?
I don't know what Syria will with MiG-31. That plane can be fitted with missiles to shoot down incoming missiles [it does have a powerful long-range radar] and Russia hasn't sold it to India or China let alone a bheak mangney wala Syria. I believe MiG-31 was especially designed to account for the vast territory that russian airforce has to cover.
Re: Russian fighter planes sale to Syria alarms Israel
Have you seen the range of its radar and missiles? Maybe you have no clue of what you are talking about? MiG-31 is designed as an all-time air superiority fighter.
Dragon, are you saying Syria is looked on better upon the world unlike Iran? Sure, syria doesn’t have the nuke issue but it is supposedly “sponsoring terrorism” in Iraq and any weapon purchases give dire headaches to Israel as you see in this news. It would be much easier if Iran wanted to buy these weapons to secretly slip them through.
Re: Russian fighter planes sale to Syria alarms Israel
**MiGs Will Defend Syria and Iran ** Wednesday, June 20, 2007
Russia has begun to implement the contract signed by Rosoboronexport with Syria this year for the delivery of five MiG-31E fighter-interceptors.
That means that Russia is renewing arms deliveries to the Middle East after a hiatus due to the war in Lebanon.
Iran may be the big winner from the deal, since there exists an Iranian-Syrian mutual defense agreement, and Iran is financing Damascus’s purchase.
Several sources in the military-industrial complex told Kommersant that OAO Nizhny Novgorod Sokol Plant has begun working on the five MiG-31E aircraft.
MiG-31 is designed as an all-time air superiority fighter.