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| Russia to build 12 fighters for Vietnam: report |
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16-MAY-2009 Intellasia | AFP |
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16 May, 2009 - 7:00:00 AM |
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Russia has secured an order from Vietnam for 12 Su-30MK2 fighter jets worth more than US$500 million, the Vedomosti newspaper said, citing top aviation industry officials.
The contract with Russian state arms exporters Rosoboronexport was inked in January, according to the paper.
The supersonic fighter jets are to be sold without on-board weapons, and no time frame was given for the deal.
Contracts for missiles and other arms to equip the planes are worth hundreds of millions of dollars more, the daily reported.
Just last month, media reported Russia had sealed a 1.8 billion-dollar deal for the sale of six submarines to the Vietnamese navy.
With these contracts Vietnam becomes one of Russia's five largest arms clients, alongside India, Algeria, Venezuela and China, Vedomosti said.
The weapons trade has proved one of Russia's most profitable sectors since the collapse of the Soviet Union.
Russia saw record arms sales in 2008 of US$8.35 billion, according to figures released by President Dmitry Medvedev in February, and Rosoboronexport said last month it expected similar results in 2009.
© Copyright 2009 by Intellasia.net
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