Source: The Moscow Times
Monday, December 19, 2005. Issue 3319. Page 7.
Thailand Inks Deal for 12 Fighters
By Lyuba Pronina
Staff Writer
Bangkok is wrapping up its first-ever arms deal with Russia, which
includes a dozen Sukhoi-30 fighter jets.
Russia has signed a preliminary agreement to sell $500 million
worth of military aircraft to Thailand in what would be the first
such deal with the traditional U.S. arms client.
"We signed a memorandum for 12 Sukhoi-30MKMs during President
Vladimir Putin's visit [last week] to Malaysia," a senior official
at Irkut, the privately controlled maker of the Sukhoi fighter,
said Friday. Putin was in Malaysia for a summit of the Association
of Southeast Asian Nations.
Thailand originally agreed to buy the jets last year but put off
the deal after a tsunami that killed hundreds of thousands of
people hit the region last December.
The Irkut executive, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the
sensitivity of negotiations, said the memorandum of understanding
also included delivery of helicopters to Thailand.
"We have gone half the distance and expect to sign the contract in
the first half of next year," said Alexei Fyodorov, Irkut board
chairman.
"This is good news for Russia, we haven't sold a single cartridge
to Thailand," said Konstantin Makiyenko, deputy head of the Center
for Analysis of Strategies and Technologies. "It also means that
Russia has taken over the region -- we have fighter jets in China,
Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam and now Thailand."
Makiyenko estimated that the deal would bring Russia at least $500
million. Rosoboronexport, the state arms sales agency, was not
available for comment Friday.
European Aeronautic Defense and Space, or EADS, on Friday closed a
deal to buy 10 percent of Irkut.
EADS has paid $65.3 million for the stake, which Irkut president
Oleg Demchenko said would go toward both Irkut's own programs and
joint projects with EADS.
EADS has already worked with Irkut on the international promotion
of its Be-200 amphibious craft.
Last year, Airbus, which is controlled by EADS, signed a $200
million, 10-year contract with Irkut for the delivery of components
for its A320 family of passenger jets.
