Austria seen as potential buyer for the MiG-29 by MAPO

Published: 8/25/1999

According to MAPO, in a report from Interfax, the results of Austria's military aircraft tender will be announced by 2001. It claims that Russia's MiG-29 jet fighter stands a good chance of victory. The MiG-29 is reportedly competing against three other unnamed fighters. Talks with the Austrian government and air force about possible MiG sales began in 1994 and there has been a high level of government activity since then, most recently demonstrated by the visit of a Russian Deputy Prime Minister (www.concise.org 6/24/99, to examine potential debt for aerospace equipment trades. At the recent MAKS 99 air show, DASA reiterated its commitment to promoting the MiG-29 for the Austrian requirement, as part of its joint venture with MAPO and Rosvooruzhenie, called MAPS. Reports suggest that the latter believes that its chances of success are considerably enhanced by the ability to link purchase to debt payments, and by the potential production of the MiG-110 aircraft in Austria, reportedly with Libyan finance (www.concise.org 6/29/99).

Article ID: 781