A government-to-government contract was signed in June between Russia and Belorussia covering delivery of Su-30SM fighter aircraft produced by Irkut Corp at its IAZ plant in Irkutsk. Details of the contract were revealed by Dmitry Shugaev, director of Russia’s Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation, the country’s arms export control authority.
As many as 12 aircraft are believed to be included in the contract but no delivery schedule has been revealed. In addition to the Su-30SMs, Major General Oleg Dvigalev, Belorussian Air and Air Defence Force Commander-in-Chief, has claimed the country is also set to purchase an additional four Yak-130 jet trainers to complement the eight currently in service.
Alexander Mladenov
