Alexander Velovich/MOSCOW
RUSSIA HAS VIRTUALLY concluded a $2 billion deal for the sale of Sukhoi Su-27 Flankers to China, which should lead to licence production of the aircraft.
The new contract is being prepared in Moscow, ready for Russian president Boris Yeltsin to sign the final approval during his planned visit to Beijing in April-May.
The deal has been anticipated , but had been held up by problems over payment for 26 Su-27s already shipped to China. The issue was resolved late in 1995.
As a first phase, the deal would include further deliveries of Su-27s, and could lead to a more wide-ranging agreement covering other weapons systems. China wants to strengthen its air force as rival Taiwan prepares to begin taking delivery of 150 US Lockheed F-16s and 60 French Dassault Mirage 2000s later this year.
A senior official of Yeltsin's administration, Nikolay Yegorov, says that Russia has signed, or is close to signing, arms-export contracts worth a total of $6.5 billion, believed to include the Su-27s. Other contracts being negotiated are for MAPO MiG-29 Fulcrums and Mil Mi-35 Hinds to Myanma and Sukhoi Su-30MK multi-purpose fighters to India.
Russia has promised that cash from export sales will help fund its ailing aircraft industry.
Source: Flight International
