25 August 2003
Delivery of S-300 SAM to Vietnam
The S-300PMU-1 complex will protect Vietnam’s sky after 2005. Russia will sell two battalions of such complexes to Vietnam (around $250 million). Vietnam has become the third foreign nation to purchase the S-300PMU-1 complexes. China and Cyprus were the first customers in the mid-1990s.
News about the contract became known at the MAKS-2003 air show on Thursday. Almaz general director Igor Ashurbeili stated at a press conference that “there is a third nation, which will purchase such complexes”. In the meantime, Gazeta ‘s source in the military-industrial complex stated that a contract $250 million worth was signed.
Vietnam has not been purchasing Russian weapons since 1995-1997. At that time Russia built 12 Sukhoi fighters (six Su-27SK and six Su-27UBK; $360 million) and six project 1241 speed-boats (around $120 million).
Konstantin Makienko, deputy director of the Center for Analysis of Strategies and Technologies, said: “The new contract is a break-through for Rosoboronexport and producers of the S-300 complex.” (it should be noted that the share of anti-aircraft weapons amounts to 4% to 8% of the total arms exports).
According to him, it’s very difficult to sell the S-300 complex to foreign customers owing to two reasons. This is too powerful a complex and not all nations need it. In addition, there are political reasons. For instance, Middle Eastern nations (Iran, Syria and Libya) are interested in Russian anti-aircraft complexes. However, the US will surely protest against contracts with these nations. The Patriot complex won a victory over the S-300 in a tender in South Korea owing to political reasons. According to Makienko, Malaysia, Indonesia and Arab nations will think about purchasing such complexes after Vietnam receives the S-300. Such contracts may bring in billions of dollars to Russia.
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