ARMENIA BUYS WAR PLANES FROM RUSSIA – AZERI AGENCY

Turan news agency, Azerbaijan
Oct 3 2005

Baku, 3 October: Armenian Deputy Defence Minister Artur Agabekyan
said few days ago that Armenia had bought 10 fighter jets. But he
did not name the model of the jets and a country where they were made.

The Armenian media reported yesterday that these were new Russian-made
SU-27 fighter jets bought from Slovakia. Turan news agency has learned
from informed military sources that only two or three of those jets
are SU-27. The other aircraft are SU-25 and several MI-24 helicopter
gunships. But even if this is the case, the purchase of this military
hardware must be seriously analysed.

First of all, this means that Moscow made a serious and unfriendly
step against Baku. The point is that the new SU-27 fighter jets are
produced only in Russia (in Komsomolsk-na-Amure) and Slovakia could
be only a middleman in this deal.

As for the SU-25 jets and MI-24 helicopter gunships, they are probably
second-hand jets and helicopters, which could also be bought from
Russia. In Russia, as well as in many other countries, arms trade is
the prerogative of the state, i.e. part of state policy.

Moscow knows very well that by selling this military hardware to
Yerevan it considerably increases Armenia’s military potential.

However, the deal is also interesting from the commercial point of
view. The point is that SU-27, which costs 20m dollars, is one of
the most expensive fighter jets which Armenia cannot afford. Why did
Moscow present Armenia with a gift like this? There can be several
reasons for this.

There is no doubt this move is aimed only at exerting pressure on
Baku. This might be a response to Baku’s rapprochement with NATO and
the country’s readiness for further military cooperation with the USA,
particularly its consent to implement the Caspian Guard project.

It is also known that some high-ranking officials in Russia are
involved in arms trade, using bogus or partner companies in Slovakia.

Finally, as a member of the CSTO (the Collective Security Treaty
Organization) Russia can sell arms to other member of the alliance
at low prices.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress