Ukraine is close to signing one of its biggest ever defence deals, selling air-to-air missiles to India, according to Russian media reports.
A deal for an undisclosed number of R-27 (AA-10 Alamo) medium-range missiles is now awaiting approval from the Ukrainian government, Russian daily Nezavisimaya Gazeta reported on 25 April. India would use the weapons on its RSK MiG-29 and Sukhoi Su-30 combat aircraft.
While the sale has not been confirmed officially, the paper quotes a source close to Ukraine's national security and defence council as saying that both Kiev and its intended customer are sensitive to Russian concerns, and want to make sure that they do not upset Moscow.
The R-27 was designed by Russia's Vympel design bureau in the 1980s. Versions exhibited by Ukraine's Artem and Arsenal companies at last year's Moscow air show featured an upgraded infrared seeker, which Arsenal said would extend the weapon's detection range to 16nm (30km) from 10nm.
Artem could not be reached for comment about the reported deal.
Source: Flight International
