Sudan's defence ministry has announced its intention to acquire an additional batch of MiG-29 fighter/trainers held under option from an earlier contract with Russia's RSK MiG.
The last of Sudan's initial 10 single-seat MiG-29SEinterceptors and two MiG-29UBtwin-seat trainers were delivered last month, in time to appear at a military parade on 14 August. The final deliveries under the 2002 contract included two MiG-29SEs and one trainer.
"The contract was fulfilled ahead of time," says Valery Toryanin, RSK MiG general designer/general director. "The president of Sudan and the defence minister told us they will consider Russia as their main partner in further weapon acquisition programmes and RSK MiG as the main supplier." Russian media reports suggest the follow-on order covers the provision of an additional 12 aircraft placed under option as part of the original deal. Later this year, RSK MiG will also supply a simulator for the new aircraft, which it developed with Russia's Dinamika and TsAGI.
RSK MiG hopes to conclude a new order with Algeria for around 50 MiG-29s and MiG-AT trainers by year-end, with Yemen also expected to contract the company to upgrade its MiG-29SEs to the MiG-29SMT standard. India is considering the SMT variant to meet its requirement for 125 new fighters and RSK MiG sources suggest that this deal could be split with France's Dassault, offering additional Mirage 2000Hs.
VLADIMIR KARNOZOV / MOSCOW
Source: Flight International
