Interfax-AVN. United Arab Emirates (UAE) are expected to issue a final decision on the matter of signing a contract for the supply of Russian-made Su-35 fighters, said head of the Federal Service for Military Technical Cooperation (FSVTS) of Russian federation, Dmitry SHUGYEV. "As far as aviation is concerned, we reached an agreement in February 2017, signed a number of treaties, including the one concerning the Su-35 and the lightweight multi-purpose aircraft. So far we are in the phase of waiting for a final customer´s decision on these issues, and unfortunately we can not talk today about any progress, "said D. SHUGYEV in an interview with the Kommersant newspaper.
He also said that contracts are currently being concluded with UAE regarding the servicing of anti-tank missile and anti-aircraft rocket-gun systems, supplied in the past. "We mean" KORNET "and" PANTSIR ", the head of FSVTS said. RUSSIA has been conducting talks over supplies of Su-35 fighter aircraft for several years. This has been announced already in November 2017, when journalists were informed by the press department of FSVTS of Russian federation. At the end of September 2017, the assistant to Russian President, Vladimir KOZHIN told the press-agency "INTERFAX" that RUSSIA and UAE could conclude a contract for the delivery of Su-35 fighter jets by the end of 2017, but that did not happen.
In April 2017, the Minister for Industry and Trade, Denis MANTUROV, said that UAE could buy up to several dozen Su-35 fighters in Russia. At the same time, the director of the corporation "ROSTECH", Sergei CHERMEZOV, declared that UAE had confirmed in writing the readiness to buy Su-35 aircraft in Russia. "We have signed an bill of intention to buy Su-35 SUKHOI fighter aircraft," S.CHERMEZOV told reporters at IDEX-2017.