http://www.geostrategy-direct.com
Late sales to Iran, Algeria put Russian arms exports over $6 billion in 2005 MOSCOW Russia has reported a new arms export record. Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov said Moscow sold $6 billion worth of weapons in 2005, a $500 million increase from the previous year. Ivanov said the Russian backlog of orders also increased in 2005. It included orders for mid-term projects for several foreign clients. "The general volume of orders comes to $22 billion at the moment, which means our industry has serious orders for the next few years," Ivanov said on Jan. 18. The arms export figure for 2005 was released after Ivanov briefed President Vladimir Putin. The figure was far higher than expected by Russian officials and analysts. In November 2005, officials from Rosoboronexport assessed that Russian arms exports would decline to about $5 billion. They cited Moscow's failure to conclude major arms deals with East Asia. Over the past month, Moscow reached an estimated $1 billion deal for the sale of anti-aircraft systems and other equipment to Iran. Russia also concluded arms deals with other Middle East states, including Algeria and Syria. Putin plans to visit Algeria in March for the possible signing of a $3 billion weapons deal. Officials said Putin has accepted an invitation to visit Algiers and plans to sign the agreement to sell aircraft and other systems to the North African state. Putin would also write off a large part of the estimated $4.5 billion Algerian debt to Moscow. "Putin will not travel anywhere without a firm commitment that the deal has been sealed," an official said. Officials said Algeria plans to purchase the Su-30MKI fighter, the MiG-29SMT/UBT fighter and the S-300PMU long-range anti-aircraft system. A signing in Algiers would conclude three years of negotiations between Algiers and Moscow. Details of the expected contract remain unclear. But industry sources said Algeria could order 40 MiG-29SMTs and twin-seat UBTs with an option for another 30. The sources said the MiG-20 deal could amount to nearly $1.5 billion. The deal would include the return of aging MiG fighters to Russia. Algeria was also expected to purchase about 25 Su-30MKI fighters. The sources said the deal could contain several stages, with an initial order of 12 Sukhois. Algeria has lost interest in ordering the new MiG-AT advanced jet trainer, developed in cooperation with EADS. Algeria has been negotiating for the Yak-130 trainer as well as additional Su-24MK aircraft and missile frigates. Russia also plans to sell Algeria eight S-300PMU systems, sources said. The S-300 is capable of both air and missile defense and would be the first introduction of the system in the Arab world. Algeria renewed military cooperation with Russia by ordering an upgrade of 22 Su-24s in 2002. Sources said 15 aircraft were modernized and Russia has exported another seven surplus Sukhois to Algeria. -------------------------- Want to discuss this topic? Head on over to our discussion list, [EMAIL PROTECTED] -------------------------- Brooks Isoldi, editor [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.intellnet.org Post message: osint@yahoogroups.com Subscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] *** FAIR USE NOTICE. This message contains copyrighted material whose use has not been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. OSINT, as a part of The Intelligence Network, is making it available without profit to OSINT YahooGroups members who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information in their efforts to advance the understanding of intelligence and law enforcement organizations, their activities, methods, techniques, human rights, civil liberties, social justice and other intelligence related issues, for non-profit research and educational purposes only. We believe that this constitutes a 'fair use' of the copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the U.S. Copyright Law. If you wish to use this copyrighted material for purposes of your own that go beyond 'fair use,' you must obtain permission from the copyright owner. For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/osint/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
