Moscow, 20th May 2009 -Russian Aircraft Corporation (MiG) officially states
that Russia and Syria never signed a contract for the delivery of
MiG-31E-type aircraft to Syrian Arab Republic. The information published by
mass media on either signing or suspending such a contract is incorrect. The press release was quoted to the press service spokesperson of MiG,
Uvarov.A. A section of the western media had reported last week that Russia had
contracted in 2007 to sell MiG31E and MiG-29 fighters to Syria under a deal
financed by Iran. The report speculated that the MiG-31E were the same
fighters technologically which are being offered to India as the MiG-35. The MiG-35 is competing with the F-16, the SAAB Gripen, the Dassault, the
F/A 18 and Eurofighter for India's $2 billion fighter deal to buy 126
aircraft. Perhaps MiG Corporation feels the report will affect its pitch in
India.