Russia sells 36 yak-130 trainers to Syria

[Pete]

According to de Telegraaf http://www.telegraaf.nl/buitenland/1135 ... yri__.html the deal was concluded in december 2011 and has a value of 425 billion euro. sorry link is Dutch only.

Regards,
Pete

[ehusmann]

425 billion euro

Million.... I assume....

Erwin

[Pete]

Sorry Erwin,

Yes indeed 425 million should be the ammount of money paid.
Thanks for pointing out.
Regards,
Pete

[aerobaticteams]

This is stupidity. Syria is in civil war, and buy training planes. I can't believe.

[pjotrtje]

This is stupidity. Syria is in civil war, and buy training planes. I can't believe.

Well, I can believe. Russia is a good friend of Syria, and with the recent Arabic Spring, some of Russia's friends in the Arabian geography have disappeared. Russia is just protecting it's interests. Simple politics. Russia states "a freedom rebel is just another word for a terrorist, when viewed from another standpoint".

[ehusmann]

Syria is in civil war, and buy training planes.

That depends on how you look at it. I agree with you it is (or very soon will be) a civil war, but I am pretty sure Assad does not agree. If he should call it a civil war it means he really has a problem and the Arab league (and UN) would have more fuel to do something. As long as he calls it "terrorists and armed bandits" it is a different thing. And if it is not a war, why not reequip your armed forces?
And I also very much agree with pjotrtje on the Russian side of the equation.

Erwin