Russia to buy Israeli drones

MOSCOW: Russia has concluded a contract with an Israeli firm for the sale of drones, a defense official said on Friday, in Moscow's first purchase of military hardware from the Jewish state.

"We have concluded a contract with an Israeli firm on supplying Russia with several drones," Russian Deputy Defense Minister Vladimir Popovkin said after returning from a trip to Israel, quoted by Russian news agencies.

The minister did not name the Israeli company, but press reports have identified it as Israel Aerospace Industries and put the value of the deal at $50 million. According to Kommersant, Russia is purchasing Bird-Eye 400, I-View MK150 and Search MK II drones from Israel Aerospace Industries.

Negotiations with Israel are likely to have been colored by tensions over Russian ties with some of the Jewish state's Middle Eastern adversaries, such as Iran, say analysts.

Popovkin on Friday echoed earlier dissatisfaction voiced by Russia's military with the drones produced by his country's own defense industry.

The purpose of the latest purchase is "for our manufacturers to see what it is we're talking about," he said.

Moscow began shopping for foreign unmanned aircraft after last year's war in Georgia.

Moscoq tests missile

Russia successfully test-fired a Topol intercontinental ballistic missile on Friday as part of checks needed to extend its service life for up to 22 years, Russian media reported.

The Topol was fired from the Plesetsk cosmodrome, nestled among the forests of northern Russia, and successfully hit the test site on Russia's Pacific peninsula of Kamchatka, 6,000 km to the east.

"This launch confirmed the time extension for the Topol group of missiles for up to 22 years," Itar-Tass news agency quoted Colonel Alexander Vovk of the Russian Strategic Rocket Forces as saying.

AFP-Reuters

(China Daily 04/11/2009 page11)