Russia To Sell Old Su-30 Fighters To Belarus

September 27, 2012

Russian media reports say Moscow plans to sell Belarus old Sukhoi Su-30 military planes formerly used by India.

The "Vedomosti" newspaper, which initially reported the details of the deal, quoted a source in the Russian Defense Ministry as saying that the Belarusian Air Force could purchase 18 former Indian fighters.

According to the newspaper, India returned the planes to Russia after using them for about a decade.

In accordance with an agreement signed in 2007, Russia will provide India with more sophisticated planes -- the Su-30K -- instead.

Last week, Belarusian President Alyaksandr Lukashenka said he asked his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, for support for Belarusian Air Force when they met earlier this month.

"We will have modern planes in the near future," Lukashenka said.

Based on reporting by vedomosti.ru and fontanka.ru

Source: http://www.rferl.org/content/russia-india- belarus-fighter-jets/24722028.html

Copyright (c) 2012. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.