Algeria is trying to force Russia into taking back 15 new MiG-29 fighter aircraft due to serious flaws in the aircraft. They have also stopped delivery of the other 19 aircraft that were initially ordered. It seems that the Russian arms industry has a bit of trouble producing quality weapon systems lately, because others are also complaining.
MOSCOW – Algeria has demanded that Moscow take back several MiG fighter jets supplied under a major arms deal because of quality concerns, dealing a painful blow to Russian pride, news reports said Tuesday.
The effort to return the planes, which is expected to top the agenda of visiting Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika's talks Tuesday in the Kremlin, could tarnish Russia's reputation as a reliable supplier and damage its hopes to expand its niche in the world's arms market.
"The return of the planes would be unprecedented for Russia," said Alexander Khramchikhin, a senior researcher at the Moscow-based Institute for Political and Military Analysis.
Algeria said it wanted to return the first 15 MiG-29 fighter jets supplied last year and refused to take the remaining aircraft under a $1.3 billion contract, Russian news reports said. The 2006 deal envisaged the delivery of 34 MiG-29s in 2007-2008.
Algerian officials said the planes had some old and substandard parts. After months of talks, Russian and Algerian officials reached a deal last week on details of their return, the business daily Kommersant said. It said penalties and other aspects of the issue had yet to be worked out.
India is embroiled in a fight with a Russian shipyard over the overhaul of an aircraft carrier. Russia is taking hit on this kind of problem with increasing frequency, apparently.
On the bright side China is buying subs from the Russians. Hopefully they are undergoing the same stringent quality control as the MIG’s.