Possible resale of new MiGs to Algeria raises Russian concerns

Published: 11/2/1999

It appears that the MiG-29UBs purchased by Belarus for an undisclosed price through Rosvooruzhenie, are to be resold to Algeria. This is causing howls of indignation from some Russian sources that fear that the aircraft may have been heavily discounted and object to the sale of the latest Russian technology at such a price, according Vasily Pankov, the General Director of Sokol, in an interview with Russian news agency Interfax. According to Pankov, the manufacturer of the aircraft, the deal could seriously affect the potential exports to Belarus in the future, as it seems that Algerian deal may have undercut the price a less sophisticated MiG-29 that would have been directly offered to the Algerians by Russia. According to Minsk newspaper, the Belorusskya Delovaya Gazeta, it seems likely that the Belarussian state foreign trade company, Beltekheksport has used the deal as a means of 'lining its own pockets'. Although, even taking into account 'personal enterprise', Belarus's current catastrophic financial situation and given its inability, to compete as a global arms supplier. This type of deal may be one of the government's few sources of revenue, particularly given Russia's willingness to sell the latest technology to its ally. There is also the suggestion, that despite the protest of Sokol's General Director, the markedly more relaxed arms export agencies of Belarus, as opposed to the bureaucratic Russian agencies, may make the Belarussian option an attractive one for Russian producers. Offering a much more responsive export option for the price of a commission, with deals consummated within three to six months. The loser in all of this is the Belarussian Air Force, which needs the planes and is unlikely to see them or any of the proceeds of their sale according to the Belorusskya Delovaya Gazeta.

Article ID: 1036