Russian-made Yak-130 jets ‘waiting for political decision’ for Syria delivery

MOSCOW

An unspecified number of the aircraft have been produced by aircraft-builder Irkut as part of the $550 million deal for 36 Yak-130s. Company photo

Russia has not yet decided to deliver the light attack aircraft Yak-130 to the Bashar al-Assad regime in Syria, despite the fact that it was manufactured as part of a deal signed in 2011.

An unspecified number of the aircraft have been produced by aircraft-builder Irkut as part of the $550 million deal for 36 Yak-130s, Russian news agency Ria Novosti reported.

“They are standing outside the factory waiting for a political decision,” a source in the Russian delegation at the Paris Air Show told the agency today, without revealing the number of planes. The head of aircraft maker MiG said last month that Russia was counting on providing Syria with 10 MiG-29 fighter planes and was discussing details with the al-Assad regime.

“If a positive decision is made, the maker’s specialists will install the engines and avionics and the planes will be delivered to the customer,” the source said.

Moscow defends its contracts, saying the deliveries are transparent and do not violate international law.