Russia is negotiating a second purchase of Israeli-made spy drones roughly twice the size of an initial $50 million sale announced in April, Israeli defense sources said on Monday.
They said the new deal with state-owned Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) would be worth about $100 million and would feature improved surveillance equipment on the pilotless planes.
| Long-Delayed Dea |
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| Turkey 'gives Israel deadline' for drone delivery / AFP |
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Turkish defense minister quoted as saying Israel Aerospace Industries, Elbit have 50 days to fulfill deal for delivery of 10 drone aircraft for Turkish army, says 'if this does not bear fruit, the tender may be cancelled' |
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"The Russians are going for a triple upgrade of their fleet and its capabilities," a defense source said.
IAI declined to comment.
Russia's war
with neighboring Georgia in 2008 exposed an army with largely obsolete equipment and a lack of modern spy drones, defense analysts said.
While Georgia used Israeli drones during the five days of fighting, Russia had to rely mainly on its Tu-22 strategic bombers for battlefield intelligence.
The drone deals help improve Israeli ties with Russia, an important country in international efforts to contain Iran's nuclear program.
Russia has held up a planned sale of the S-300 air defense system to Iran.
Analysts have said the S-300 could help the Iranians defend their atomic sites against possible military strikes by Israel or
the United States.
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