Malaysia plans to buy 18 more Russian fighter jets
November 15th, 2011 - 1:00 pm ICT by IANSMoscow, Nov 15 (IANS/RIA Novosti) Malaysia plans to buy 18 Russian Su-30MKM fighters capable of carrying Russian-Indian BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles, the Izvestia daily said Tuesday.
The paper said, citing military sources, that Malaysian Defense Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi plans Tuesday to visit the Irkut aviation plant that is producing Su-30MKI fighters for India.
According to Izvestia, each aircraft would cost Malaysia about $50 million, future maintenance included.
During the visit, the minister “may sign a contract to buy 18 Su-30MKM multirole fighters”, the paper said.
The defense minister also plans to discuss installing new missiles, including BrahMos, on the 18 Su-30MKM fighters that Malaysia received in August 2009 under the $900-million contract signed in 2003.
Malaysia’s mixed fighter fleet also includes Russian MiG-29N Fulcrum and the US F/A-18D Hornet and F-5 Tiger.
The Su-30MKM is a multi-role version based on the Su-30MKI model and features a customized avionics package built to Malaysian specifications. The Sukhoi family of fighters constitute the bulk of Russia’s arms exports.
–IANS/RIA Novosti
rd/vm
- Russia signs $35 mn missile deal with Malaysia - Apr 20, 2012
- Indian fighter jets to be armed with BrahMos missiles - Feb 05, 2010
- India to arm Russia-built jets with BrahMos missiles - Apr 22, 2010
- Russia places order for 30 fighter aircraft - Mar 22, 2012
- Belarus may buy outdated Su-30 fighters from Russia - Sep 16, 2011
- Russia close to signing Su-35 fighter deal with China - Mar 06, 2012
- Russia to sell off 18 fighter planes that India rejected - May 16, 2012
- Work on BrahMos' hypersonic version to begin this year: Russian official - Jun 12, 2011
- India, Russia spar over BrahMos missile air version - Mar 12, 2011
- IAF's Sukhois to roar close to Pakistan border - Sep 30, 2011
- Russia to build mini drone - Mar 15, 2012
- 40 Indian fighter jets to be fitted with BrahMos missiles - Apr 22, 2010
- US hypersonic weapons threat to Russia: Minister - May 11, 2012
- Russian-built, BrahMos-fitted frigate set for Indian Navy induction - Dec 16, 2011
- Russia completes final trials of Indian frigate - Feb 08, 2012
Tags: 50 million, ahmad zahid, arms exports, avionics, brahmos, cruise missiles, defense minister, fleet, fulcrum, hornet, izvestia daily, military sources, moscow, ria novosti, russian fighter jets, su 30mki, su 30mkm, sukhoi, vm, zahid hamidi