Putin's friends in the Arab world are being armed for war.
Posted on 01/26/2006 9:01:34 PM PST by Tailgunner Joe
ALGIERS, January 26 -- Russia is set to sell $4 billion worth of arms to Algeria, in what would be its largest post-Soviet defense export deal.
"The work on the package of contracts for the delivery of a large part of Russian weapons to Algeria is practically complete, and they are likely to be signed in February," Interfax quoted an unnamed source in the defense industry.
The multibillion-dollar list of weapons includes 36 MiG-29SMT and 28 Su-30 fighter jets, eight divisions of S-300MPU2 Favorit air defense systems and a batch of T-90 battle tanks, the source said. Along with the four deals, Russia will sign a few more contracts for the upgrade of Soviet-made arms already in Algeria's possession, the source said.
The news was confirmed by an independent defense source, who said the package of contracts had already been ratified and was expected to be signed during President Vladimir Putin's visit to the North African country late next month or in March.
MiG, Irkut, which makes Sukhoi fighter jets, and the Almaz-Antei air defense concern refused to comment, as did Rosoboronexport, the state-owned arms selling agency.
The weapons will be paid for in a "complicated scheme involving striking off part of Algeria's Soviet debt," the source told Interfax, without specifying the period over which the arms would be delivered
In addition to the upcoming contracts, Algeria may buy up to 50 Yak-130 combat trainer planes and about 30 Tunguska-M1 air defense systems, the source said.
"If signed, it will be the largest arms deal for post-Soviet Russia; it will be grandiose," said Konstantin Makiyenko, deputy head of the Center for Analysis of Strategies and Technologies, a Moscow-based defense think tank.
The last deal of similar magnitude was signed with India in 2000 for licensed production of 140 Su-30MKIs and was worth $3.3 billion, Makiyenko said.
For the last few years, Russia, the world's largest arms exporter after the United States, has been selling in excess of $5 billion worth of arms annually. The deal with Algeria is very timely as Russia's prime clients -- China and India -- are increasingly looking to diversify their arms suppliers and their markets are gradually becoming saturated, analysts said.
"Algeria was Russia's traditional arms client in Soviet times, but after the breakup it switched to Ukraine and Belarus mainly, buying Su-27s and MiG-29s. This contract will be Russia's triumphant return to North Africa," said Ruslan Pukhov, editor of Moscow Defense Brief magazine.
"In the coming years, Algeria will account for 20 percent of Russian's arms exports, while China and India will plummet from 70 percent to 50 percent," Pukhov said. - Moscotimes
4 Billion in primarily aircraft sales??? hmmm.... maybe they are planning on invading france.
and should they really be an economic aid recipient if they can afford this order???
Algeria? Who would have thought?
Some people say that Russia is going to sell 5 Billion dollars worth of arms to Venezuela.
PING
I don't know, they were sure doing a thriving business under the table with Saddam.
Don't forget the fact that China and India both have contracts with Russia to produce their goods, and Venezuela is also getting these licenses to produce Russian weapons in their factories. So, these surface numbers mean nothing.
And here I thought Putin was our friend.
Well everybody knows what ASSUME means............
You must be making your comment in a sarcastic tone.
Russia is also a big arms supplier to the iranian goverment and never mind the lucrative contracts the russians have with the iranian goverment to build nuke plants.
The bottom line is it is pretty hard for a country like russia and china to be permanent members on the (Barf) United Nations security council having veto power to prevent The US and the EU from imposing sanctions on the iranian goverment without the overwhelming odor of pig droppings that comes from a glaring conflict of interest because the russians and the chinese have a lot of business dealings with the goverment of iran and imposing economic sanctions on iran would amount to them cutting their own throats..........
I sincerely believe in light of all of the developments in the middle east lately is eventually ;
1. a long ugly war in the middle east will break out including conventional and chemical weapons and use of small to medium sized tactical nukes.
2. relations with russia will finally erode to the point similar to the cold war where diplomatic realtions with the russians will be pretty frosty indeed..............
My question is what does the algerian goverment need with 4 billion dollars of military gear?
They were invaded by France a couple of years back. Seriously, it really happened.
L
Where the heck does a craphole like Algeria get 4 billion bucks for weapons? And for what? I can't imagine there being large threats against it. I mean who'd want it. If you gave me Algeria I'd ask for second prize.
This is exactly what the African continent needs is more weapons. The circle was never broken.
Looks like Algeria will become a target rich environment. That is much better than wasting all that ammo on target ranges.
Putin is making the rounds again, in more ways then one.
Are you implying that Algeria and USA are in conflict? Since when?
Where the heck does a craphole like Algeria get 4 billion bucks for weapons?
________________________
Huge natural gas exports. Boston/New England for one.
Thanks, didn't know they had anything besides sand.
Some more--->>
CIA - The World Factbook -- Algeria
Algeria has the seventh-largest reserves of natural gas in the world and is the second-largest gas exporter; it ranks 14th in oil reserves. ...
www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/ag.html - 101k - Jan 25, 2006 - Cached - Similar pages
Putin's friends in the Arab world are being armed for war.
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