Russia has confirmed its plans to deliver at least eight MiG-31 Foxhound interceptor aircraft to Syria, to honour a contract signed two years ago.
The existence of an estimated $400m deal has been denied to date, however, its was confirmed in May 2009, Kommersant reports.
Russia’s United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) head Alexei Fyodorov was quoted by Kommersant as saying that a couple of years ago they signed two contracts with Syria, one on MiG-29M and another on MiG-31.
“The first is being implemented, but the MiG-31 contract has never become effective… I hope that the contract will be implemented sooner or later,” he said.
The MiG-31 Foxhound is a two-seat supersonic interceptor aircraft powered by two D-30F6 turbofan two-shaft engines and equipped with a common afterburner and a variable supersonic nozzle for flying at supersonic speeds of up to Mach 2.83.
The industry speculates that if Russia goes through with the delivery, it would cause concern for the West and Israel, which consider Syria a regional threat.
