Russia hints at prospected delivery of formidable jets to Syria

Russia could supply the Syrian regime with advanced model of MIG fighter jets, interfax quoted a leader in the Russian military industry as saying on Friday. Interfax quoted the MiG corporation director general, Sergei Korotkov, as saying that a delegation of the Syrian regime is currently holding negotiations in Moscow to try work out a deal to purchase Mig-29/M2 aircraft, an advanced version of these Russian fighter jets. He indicated that these talks were related to previously-signed deals to supply weapons to Syria. The Damascus regime has employed fighter jets in carrying out strikes in the ongoing hostilities with armed opposition groups on Syrian territories. Meanwhile, Interfax and Rai Novosti news agencies quoted military sources as saying that Moscow would deliver anti-aircraft S-300 missiles to Damascus next fall. There had been various reports about Syria's acquisition of these missiles; whether Damascus had already received a delivery of these missiles. Israel has publicly opposed to arming the Syrian regime with such sophisticated arms. Moscow has been a main supplier of arms to the Syrian regime since times of the defunct Soviet Union. The Russians have military presence on the northern Syrian coast.