Eleven of Ukraine’s MiG-29 fighters could be armed with advanced weapons along with receiving new capabilities owing to Israel’s offer of modernising the Russian-origin aircraft at a total cost of $440 million, according to a report.
“The winged craft will receive fundamentally new capabilities and the latest weapons for airborne warfare. The upgrades could cost about $440 million, at $40 million per fighter,” a source in the Ukrainian Defense Ministry was quoted as saying by Defense Industry Courier on August 28.
“Israeli firm Elbit Systems could be responsible for the upgrades,” the source added.
The source also mentioned that the contract has not yet been signed, and negotiations are still underway.
According to the Ukrainian information publication Dialogue.ua, the Ukrainian Defense Ministry has entered into a deal with an Israeli Elbit Systems, which has promised to modernize the MiG-29 fighters.
Noteworthy is the fact that the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine previously announced its intentions to use Israeli high-precision ammunition on its combat aircraft, which confirms the fact that the modernization of the MiG-29 will mainly affect the weapon systems of these fighters.
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