Heavy diplomatic pressure on the Israeli Government by Eritrea may postpone the delivery of 10 upgraded MiG-21s by Elbit to the Ethiopian air force.
The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs has received a formal request from Eritrea to stall the deal, and sources say it is likely Elbit Systems will be asked to delay delivery of the aircraft. The final decision will be made by the Israeli Ministry of Defence.
Elbit won the contract in June, but Eritrea protested to the Israeli Government, claiming the supply of the upgraded fighters will amount to Israeli intervention in the war with Ethiopia.
In recent years Elbit Systems and Israel Aircraft Industries have competed for a contract to upgrade 20 Ethiopian air force MiG-21s.
In June the Ethiopians requested prompt delivery of 10 upgraded fighters to be used in the war with Eritrea and Elbit responded by persuading Romania to allow it to transfer to Ethiopia 10 of the 110 MiG-21s it was upgrading for Bucharest. This unique arrangement tipped the balance in favour of the Elbit offer.
Source: Flight International