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| India-Pakistan |
| Algeria and India offered trade-in deal for MiG-31s |
| 2005-12-12 |
| RSK MiG has invited Algeria and India to exchange their small fleets of MiG-25s for new MiG-31 interceptors in buy-back deals that would support the design bureau’s bid to extend MiG-25 operations for Libya and Syria. RSK MiG says it is offering two MiG-25 users a trade-in deal that would enable them to acquire new-build MiG-31s to be produced at Sokol’s Nizhny Novgorod plant in exchange for their ageing MiG-25s. The offer is believed to have been made to Algeria and India, which are expected to withdraw their entire MiG-25R/U fleets within the next three to five years. Should the countries accept the offer, their MiG-25s will be disassembled and used as spare parts to sustain Libyan and Syrian aircraft. RSK MiG deputy general director Vladimir Vypryazhkin says new health-monitoring and preventive maintenance techniques and modern logistics practices developed by the bureau in support of the German air force’s former MiG-29 fleet could enable current MiG-25 operators to keep their aircraft in use for up to 10 more years. The Russian air force plans to replace its remaining MiG-25 reconnaissance and strike aircraft with MiG-31 variants. |
| Posted by:john |
| #3 I don't think India's stupid enough to trade reconnaissance aircraft for interceptors, even if the MiG-25 is getting a bit long in the tooth. The Russians have nothing to offer in the form of a reconnaisssance aircrft to replace it with, and the "pod" for the Mig-31 is a piece of crap! I guess we'll just have to wait and see, but I doubt this deal will entice the Indians. The Migs have been too important to them in their keeping track of the Pakistani military. |
| Posted by: Old Patriot 2005-12-12 23:20 |
| #2 "great employee-pricing plans extended to our customers! You pay what we pay! Great pay for trade-ins! We're BLOWING them out!" |
| Posted by: Frank G 2005-12-12 21:53 |
| #1 I'll say this for the Russian weapons makers - those that made it through the revolution adapted to capitalism quite well. |
| Posted by: Oldspook 2005-12-12 21:45 |