Russia provides 10 MiG fighter jets to Lebanon for free

I just hope these fighter jets dont fall in Iran juniors hands (hezbolla)


http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/middle_east/article5360865.ece


Russia gave Lebanon ten MiG fighter jets yesterday in a deal to boost defence cooperation.
The MiG29 Fulcrum fighters would be provided free to Lebanon under an agreement on military-technical assistance, the head of Russia’s defence cooperation service said. Mikhail Dmitryev said that the jets would come from Russia’s existing stock.
He said that Moscow was also in talks to supply Beirut with heavy armour, adding that supplies of such weaponry were “now possible after the situation in this nation has stabilised”.
He said: “We view the Lebanese army as the main guarantor of this nation’s stability, therefore the armed forces of this country must be strengthened.” The deal followed a meeting in Moscow between Anatoly Serdyukov, the Defence Minister, and Elias Murrhis, his Lebanese counterpart. Mr Serdyukov said that Russia had received a detailed list of armaments sought by Lebanon.






When details of the deal emerged on Tuesday it was suggested that the aircraft would be sold at a discount. Mr Dmitryev confirmed yesterday however that they would be free, with delivery paid by the Russian Defence Ministry. He said: “Military-technical assistance, this means assistance in budgetary funds.”
The MiG29s, one of Russia’s best fighter jets, will provide considerable additional firepower for the Lebanese air force, which currently has only five outdated Hawker Hunter jets and 16 helicopters.
The gift is certain to strengthen Russian influence in the Middle East as Moscow seeks to restore a position that was lost with the collapse of the Soviet Union.
The agreement is likely to prompt concern in Israel and the United States, given the continuing power and influence of the Islamic militant group Hezbollah in Lebanon. Ria-Novosti news agency reported that Lebanese officials were also seeking tanks, antitank rockets, air defence systems and helicopters.
Russia is already a major weapons supplier to neighbouring Syria, which is keen to acquire the latest MiG29s and was reported to be seeking the latest Sam S300 air defence missiles earlier this year.
Moscow denied that it would sell the systems to Syria.
The northern Syrian port of Tartus has also been identified as a possible base for the Russian navy to gain a permanent presence in the Mediterranean. Russian warships visited Cuba this week for the first time since the Cold War after taking part in their first war games with Venezuela.
Russia announced plans in September to sell antiaircraft systems to Iran despite American objections. It is already building a nuclear power plant for Iran that the West suspects is part of Tehran’s plans to acquire an atomic bomb.
The Kremlin is rearming Russia’s military too. Colonel-General Nikolai Solovtsov, head of the Strategic Missile Forces, told Russian news agencies yesterday that Russia would commission a new intercontinental ballistic missile, the RS24, next year with multiple warheads.
He said that Russia’s Strategic Missile Forces planned 13 practice launches in 2009, almost double the number this year. They would include five test launches of new missiles as part of plans to overhaul Russia’s Soviet-era nuclear arsenal by 2020 and counter American defence systems.
“By 2015-2020 the Russian strategic rocket forces will have new complete missile systems with improved combat characteristics,” General Solovtsov said. “They will be capable of carrying out any tasks, including in conditions where an enemy uses antimissile defence measures.”

 

I do n't understand what is their strategy in the "cursed land" of West Asia

 

So what? They cant use it properly anyway...

 

Ya .. but it will make their enemy go mad
It is just the start , Russia was happy to provide these jet fighters and promised to provide the Lebanese army more ...

 

I think this is a very interesting development. The military hardware in question is not cheap and to provide it for free represents for me a rather chilling policy on the part of the Russians. If they continue to provide armed assistance to weaker nations, re-engage with old military allies and use force as an instrument of foreign policy (Georgia) then we are moving closer to a Cold War situtation which is one that the majority of the West would be keen to avoid, especially given oil concerns and the cost of military upkeep.

 

Great, there are 2 options here and both look ominous to me. First, imagine these jet fighters ending up in the hands of Iran II (hezbolla, because they have forced themselves into the government), and 2. they will stay with the lebanese army and it will wage a bloody civil war to try to get Hezbollas illegal weapons away from it. Either way the lebanese people lose. Just maybe the Russians were waiting till hezbolla became a legitimate(supposedly) part of the lebanese government before making this deal .

 

I agee pingpong. I feel bad for the lebanese people, caught in a tug of war per se.

 

Russia is coming back in action...they are making more friends that can be US enemy

 

The 10 MIG 29s aren't too much threat to Israel. But could pose a threat to the US Navy operating in the Eastern Med.

The big arms money is with India, Japan and the Gulf States and they are all lining up to purchase the F-35. I believe that Russia is trying to send a message to the US and Israel about rearming Georgia.

 

Why a threat to US Navy and not Isreal?

 

The thing is lonestar is that the lebanese people dont know who to count on and cant get rid of the proxy army within it. The taef agreement said that all proxy militias must disarm, yet hezbolla still has massive weapons and forced the lebanese government to recognize it as a freedom fighter unit defending lebanon against isreal which is complete rubbish.

 

I believe it is just because Israel supplied weapon to georgia.

 

Lol may be russians are in the holiday mood, Christmas came early. This is a nice strategy to increase arms race, if there is a arms race two nations that will directly profit from it are russia and america. They sell most of the military equipments. Russia sells like walmart, while Americans sell like designer houses

 

10 fighter jets are not much of a threat to an entire country and as wisdomtool pointed out the Israeli air force is top notch.

Hezbollah could use the jets for a kamikaze attack on a US ship close to the Lebanese coast.

 

i agree that the Israeli air force is one of the best but, surely more fighter jets could be built if, there was some kind of technology transfer too...
moreover, there`s always a possibility that Lebanon might receive more fighter jets in future!!

 

Do you guys think those planes will get close enough to touch the US Navy? You really think anything russia has is anywhere close to US Air Power/Anti Air Power? You all are sadly mistaken. They are just now starting to show back up in the world arena. They sold most of their good techs back after the USSR fell. I wouldn't doubt if those fighters mysteriously have mechanical failure during training. And you all do realize it costs money to arm and fuel planes. And training, that is also quite expensive.

 

Lonestar, hezbolla has the money to fix these issues and has the will to use these planes in suicide attacks. Remember they are recieving massive support from iran and weapons are being funneled through syria and as much as i hate to admit it they faired well against a major military power (isreal) so i definately am a bit concerned about them getting their power driven hands on these plans being that they now have veto power in the government.

 

Hezbollah has Iranian advisors and most likely already have trained pilots in Iran. The Iranians also have MIG 29s and know how to maintain them.

 

As said, that would require them to get close enough to our ships to do anything. Heck, that would require them to get close enough to Israel to do anything, you guys think Israel is just sitting back? They've probably started putting more planes up around their borders. The second one crosses the border, poof, bye bye.