Russia freezes deal to deliver MIG-31E planes to Syria

Russia has frozen its deal to ship eight MIG-31E fighter-interceptor planes to Syria, a newspaper has reported suggesting either shortage of funds on Syria’s side, or pressure from Israel. According to a report published Wednesday in Kommersant daily, the $500 million contract to supply Syria with Russian fighter-interceptor planes was signed in early 2007. The Sokol aviation plant began works on the modernization of MIG-31s from Russian Air Force reserves in the summer of 2007. However in April 2009 the works had to be stopped due to “absence of contract”, the paper reports citing sources at the aviation plant. No official comments were available. According to a source close to the Rosoboronexport, Russia’s state enterprise responsible for import and export of weapons and military products, has told Kommersant that the contract had to be frozen due to pressure from Israel. “In a similar way, when Russia signed the deal with Syria for delivery of Iskander-E missile complexes in 2005. The Israelis put pressure on Russia, and the contract was annulated.” However a different source at the Defense Ministry, also cited by the paper, said the contract was called off because Syria could not afford the planes. In winter 2005 Russia wrote off 70 percent of Syria’s debt, but Damask still owed Russia $3.6 billion.

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