Military Procurement International Vol. 18, No. 9, May 1, 2008
Copyright DAPSS S.A., 200
8, Switzerland. It is unlawful to reproduce any of this publication without written permission from the publisher.
LIBYA
Major
Russian arms deals expected
During the visit to Tripoli by Russian President
Vladimir Putin on April 16 and 17, intended primarily to promote a natural gas
equivalent to OPEC, Moscow agreed to write off US$4.5 billion of Libyan debt to
the former Soviet Union, which will be cancelled once Libyan payments for a
US$3.48 billion railway deal and US$2.3-3.0 billion in weapons contracts arrive
in Russian bank accounts.
The arms
deals, which are expected to be signed shortly, are reported to include: 12 Sukhoi Su-35 strike fighters; several dozen 90km-range Almaz-Antey
S-300PMU2 Favorit (SA-10c Grumble), 32km-range S-125 Petchora-M (SA-3 Goa),
12km-range Tor-M2E (improved SA-15 Gauntlet), and 10km-range Osa-AKM (SA-8
Gecko) Surface-to-Air Missile (SAM) systems; modernisation of Libya’s 100 T-72
Main Battle Tanks (MBTs); the supply of 48 new-build T-90S MBTs; a Project 636
Kilo class submarine; spare parts and maintenance services for military
equipment, small arms and light weapons; and sea mines.
© DAPSS
S.A., 2008, Switzerland