Russia to deliver two Su-30MKM planes to Malaysia late May

A Russian aviation plant in Irkutsk will deliver two Su-30MKM planes to the Malaysian Air Force in late May, a plant official said on Thursday.

"By late 2007, Malaysia will receive another four planes," the official was quoted by the Itar-Tass news agency as saying. Under the contract, the Malaysian Air Force will obtain 18 Su-30MKM planes.

Russia and Malaysia inked a 900-million-dollar contract in summer 2003.

Russian specialists began to fulfill the contract in early 2005 after the Malaysian expert delegation visited Irkutsk, Siberia.

The Irkut corporation plans to open its service center in Malaysia to repair and upgrade planes on-site.

Source: Xinhua