Peru will buy three new MiG-29 fighters from MAPO, in addition to the 18 secondhand models purchased last year from Belarus, in a deal that secures service and logistics support for the whole Peruvian MiG-29 fleet. Peru has reportedly had difficulty with spares and technical support direct from Belarus.
Russian state arms agency Rosvoorouzhenie is concerned with sales activity by its Belarusian counterpart, Beltechexport, and has recommended that Russian defence manufacturers avoid dealing with the agency.
Most recently, Beltechexport is reported to have undercut Russian offers to supply Smerch multiple launch rocket systems to Peru in July, according to Russian daily newspaper Sevodnya.
Belarus is also reportedly offering 36 MiG-29s to Algeria in a deal involving a barter of 120 Algerian air force MiG-21s.
Belarus has only limited potential to modernise and overhaul combat aircraft at its Baranovichi repair plant, which used to service Soviet MiG-29s.
Reports suggest that Belarus may then resell the MiG-21s to other African states, where the type remains in wide use.
Source: Flight International
