Unconfirmed $130m contract for RSK MiG (238 words)

Published: 6/20/2001

According to reports in Russian daily, Vedomosti, RSK MiG has signed a contract with Myanmar (Burma) for the delivery of what appears to be ten overhauled MiG-29s, including 2 MiG-29UBs. Sources claim that 30% of the $130m contract will be paid on delivery and the balance over a period of ten years. The single seat fighter aircraft are reported to be airframes constructed in the early 1990's, although it is not clear if they have come from Russian Government or other sources, given that, in the past, a number of aircraft allocated to former Soviet Republics have been sold on from Moldova and Belarus. The aircraft are currently at MiG's Lukhovitsky Machine-building Plant (LMZ), being put through pre-sales checks, before delivery at a cost of a reported $3-5m.Nikolai Nikitin, General Director of RSK MiG, has refused to comment on the reports of a contract, as has the Myanmar Embassy in Moscow. In terms of the deal's value, in March 2001, Bangladesh was reported to have discussed a figure of $210m for16 additional MiG-29s, following a deal for eight aircraft priced at $11m a unit in 1999. In 1998, Eritrea was, however, reported to have acquired six Moldovan aircraft, for $8m each. A further order to MAPO in 1999, for eight MiG-29s, reportedly offered terms of 30% paid on delivery, with the balance paid over a number of years.

Article ID: 2597