Global Arab Network | Start with Russia, Multi-billion deals to reform Libyan army in 2010

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Start with Russia, Multi-billion deals to reform Libyan army in 2010

Global Arab Network - - Gamal Ragay

Tuesday, 09 February 2010 23:06

Libya in process of reforming its army and singing several arms deal. The latest contract was signed with Russia around 1.3-billion-euro according the Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin.

"It's not only for small arms and light weapons," he told RIA Novosti agency.

Arms dealers with Libya told Global Arab Network that more deals are expected during 2010 with several western countries and could be exceeding $10bln.

Russia's state arms exporter Rosoboronexport confirmed its arms talks with Libya.
Russian media reports said $2 billion contracts for the delivery of Russian fighter jets and air-defense systems to Libya was signed during the visit to Moscow by the Libyan defence minister, Maj. Gen. Younis Jaber.

"We are holding talks with Libya practically on an entire range of our weapons," Rosobornexport General Director Anatoly Isaikin said.

Rosoboronexport earlier said Russia has five ongoing military contracts with Libya - "involving military equipment for its ground forces and the navy, including the modernization of T-72 tanks and spare parts supplies." Russia signed two latest arms deals with Libya in 2009.

Russian business daily Vedomosti said ahead of Jaber's visit citing an unidentified source that a deal on the sale of S300 systems was almost agreed. Other media reports said Russia looks to sell up to 15 Su fighters and Yak-130 trainer planes to Libya.

Interfax news agency quoted a military-diplomatic source as saying Libya was prepared to buy around 20 fighter planes and S-300PMU2 air defence systems.

The agency said that Libya also might acquire T-90S tanks, and modernise more than 140 T-72 tanks and other weapons.

According to Reuters, it comes days after the Libyan Investment Authority bought into the Hong Kong IPO of UC RUSAL, the world's biggest aluminium producer.

Global Arab Network

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