Russia to sell Syria warplanes, air defense systems

[YosemiteSam]

Considering Syria is known to support and harbor terrorist. Wouldn't that make Russia an enemy of the state if they are selling arms to them?

LINK

(Reuters) - Russia has signed deals with Syria under which it will sell it warplanes, anti-tank weapons and air defense systems, Itar-Tass news agency quoted a senior Russian arms trader as saying on Friday.

World

Mikhail Dmitriyev, head of the Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation, said Russia would supply Syria with MiG-29 fighters and truck-mounted Pantsir short-range surface-to-air missiles and anti-aircraft artillery systems.

He did not specify the kind of anti-tank weapons.

The arms deal is likely to be watched with unease by Syria's regional foe Israel and its ally the United States which imposed sanctions on Damascus for its support of militant groups and corruption.

Earlier this week, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev visited Syria -- the first visit to Damascus by a Moscow ruler since the 1917 Bolshevik revolution -- and oversaw talks on Russia's possible assistance in building a nuclear power plant in Syria.

While in Syria, Medvedev unnerved Israel by paying a visit to Khaled Meshaal, the exiled leader of the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas.

Israel's Foreign Ministry said it was "deeply disappointed" that Medvedev met the leader of Hamas, which it said was "a terror organization in every way."

 

[vta]

Russia has been supporting our enemies for years - just look at what they're doing with Iran. I'm not surprised and it's not much different than the Cold War and the whole scrambling for spheres of influence.

Our biggest test as a nation is yet to come...

 

[Maikeru-sama]

And I am sure we sale weapons to their enemies.

This type of behavior among nations is almost as old as the Earth itself.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

This makes the decision to pull missile defense systems out of Poland even worse.

Seems like 1979 all over again.

 

[Meat-O-Rama]

Count me as not being too worried about Syria's newfound defense capabilities. Have you seen the crap they build in Russia?

 

[vta]

Count me as not being too worried about Syria's newfound defense capabilities. Have you seen the crap they build in Russia?

:laugh2:

I haven't, but that's still funny.

 

[HoleInTheRoof]

Count me as not being too worried about Syria's newfound defense capabilities. Have you seen the crap they build in Russia?

Not only do they build and not maintain their crap . . . but we have information on how to defeat their systems if worse gets to worse.

 

[YosemiteSam]

Count me as not being too worried about Syria's newfound defense capabilities. Have you seen the crap they build in Russia?

The MIG-29 (Fulcrum) isn't a worthless fighter. Granted it doesn't have much on the top of the line US fighters today. (F-22 Raptor (undisputed king of fighers) or F35) but then again those fighters easily cost 10x more than a MIG 29 and were created after the MIG-29. (The MIG-29 was created to keep up with the F-15 Eagle and F-16 Fighting Falcons) I think MIG 29s are sub $30M, and a Raptor is $330M plus.

 

[zrinkill]

Not only do they build and not maintain their crap . . . but we have information on how to defeat their systems if worse gets to worse.

Exactly ....

 

[Bob Sacamano]

Russia is so ****ing annoying.

 

[tomson75]

The MIG-29 (Fulcrum) isn't a worthless fighter. Granted it doesn't have much on the top of the line US fighters today. (F-22 Raptor (undisputed king of fighers) or F35) but then again those fighters easily cost 10x more than a MIG 29 and were created after the MIG-29. (The MIG-29 was created to keep up with the F-15 Eagle and F-16 Fighting Falcons) I think MIG 29s are sub $30M, and a Raptor is $330M plus.

No, it's not worthless....against an enemy that doesn't have the advanced warplanes that you've listed above....but in an air superiority contest between ours (or England's) and their's, it would take all of a week to completely incapacitate their defenses and eliminate any threat of competition in the air.

The 29 was very capable fifteen years ago, but today is very much outmatched by our current inventory.

This whole thing is an affront to Isreal. It poses no immediate danger to us IMO.

Still a dick move by the Siberians though....broke-*** *****es.

 

[Cajuncowboy]

This makes the decision to pull missile defense systems out of Poland even worse.

Seems like 1979 all over again.

Yep. My first thought as well. That and that stupid new Nuke treaty we signed with them.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

Those of you who think the Russians are not building quality air craft are mistaken. Amoung several new introductions, the Russians have recently introduced the Sukhoi T-50. According to reports, that air craft has twice the range of the F22, with comperable armaments, speed, weight, thrust ratios and it is also a stealth fighter design. We will soon see how good or bad it is. The Russians are schedule to outfit India with these fighters as early as 2011.

 

[CanadianCowboysFan]

As was written above, it is the Cold War all over again. US sells to Israel which is Syria's enemy and then Russia sells to Syria which is Israel's enemy.

Makes life interesting.

 

[Jon88]

I like what Sarah Palin thinks about Russia

[youtube]nokTjEdaUGg&feature=fvw[/youtube]

 

[burmafrd]

The T-50 is nowhere near as capable as the F-22. Pure PR BS from Russia. Just like what they said about the SU-27; MIG 29; etc. In this day and age its all about avionics and Russia is about 10 years behind us there. Their stealth capability is not really close to the F-22; it barely equals the F-117.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

Since the T-50 has not been tested or even flown by the West, I can't say if it is or it is not. We will see what it is soon enough.

 

[masomenos]

Can we pleeeeeeeeeeeease have the Poli Zone back?

 

[big dog cowboy]

Can we pleeeeeeeeeeeease have the Poli Zone back?

Nope.

 

[Cajuncowboy]

I like what Sarah Palin thinks about Russia

[youtube]nokTjEdaUGg&feature=fvw[/youtube]

We'd be a lot better off now if things would have turned out differently over a year ago.