YEREVAN (RFE/RL) — Armenia is inching closer to buying sophisticated Russian fighter jets for its armed forces, the Defense Ministry in Yerevan indicated on Thursday.

Russia reportedly agreed in 2012 to sell at least 12 Sukhoi Su-30SM jets to Armenia. According to Russian media reports, the deal fell through because of financial problems cited by the former Armenian government.

Armenia’s current government signaled a strong interest in acquiring such aircraft shortly after taking office in May last year. In June, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian photographed himself in the cockpit of a Su-30SM parked at the Erebuni airbase in Yerevan.

Defense Minister Davit Tonoyan said in early December that Moscow and Yerevan are now close to signing a contract on the delivery of the warplanes which would significantly strengthen Armenia’s modest Air Force. “We…

source : massis media