Military

Russia to join Malaysian tender to supply armored vehicles

RIA Novosti

05/12/2007 14:51 LANGKAWI, December 5 (RIA Novosti) - Russia's state-run arms exporter Rosoboronexport will take part in a tender for the supply of armored personnel carriers to the Malaysian army, a company official said on Wednesday.

Russia is one of the world's largest exporters of weaponry, with annual arms sales estimated at about $6 billion. Malaysia is a key buyer of Russian military equipment, along with China, India, Algeria, Venezuela, Iran, and Serbia.

"We are expecting to participate in the Malaysian tender for APC deliveries, where we will be represented by BTR-90," Viktor Komardin told a news conference at the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace (LIMA) 2007 exhibition in Malaysia.

The BTR-90 is an 8x8-wheeled APC fitted with a 30-mm cannon turret. Limited numbers have been produced since 1994 and are in service with the Russian Interior Ministry.

Speaking at the same event, Alexander Fomin, first deputy director of the Russian Federal Service for Military and Technical Cooperation, said Russia had joined a Malaysian helicopter tender with its Mi-171V5 utility transport helicopters.

The Mi-171V5 helicopter is a derivative of the Mi-17 Hip, produced for export by two Russian factories in Kazan and Ulan-Ude. The results of the tender for 12 helicopters are due to be announced by the end of 2008.

Fomin also said Russian-made aircraft, including Mi-26 Halo heavy transport helicopter, Mi-35 Hind-E combat transport helicopter, and Mi-28NE Night Hunter and Ka-50 Black Shark attack helicopters, have good prospects on the Southeast Asian markets.