February 20, 2016 - 13:14 AMT
Armenia refutes Russian Su-30 fighter aircraft purchase

The Defense Ministry refuted media speculations, suggesting Armenia has acquired Su-30SM supermaneuverable fighter aircraft from Russia.

Earlier, some media outlets reported on the alleged purchase of Russian fighter jets. The author of one such report had even gone so far as to detail the reason behind the acquisition of the 38-ton warplanes, citing the Nagorno Karabakh conflict.

The Russian government published a copy of the loan agreement, signed by the two sides in 2015 and ratified by both countries' parliaments later that year.

According to the document, Armenia purchased Russian MLRS Smerch multi-launch rocket system and ammunition, anti-aircraft missile complexes Igla-S, surface complexes of electronic jamming system Avtobaza-M, heavy flamethrower system TOS-1A with transport-loading machines, 9М113М guided missiles, rocket-propelled grenades RPG-26, Dragunov sniper rifles, armored Tiger vehicles, engineering tools and military communications equipment.

The list, however, may still be amended.