MOSCOW. Aug 17 (Interfax-AVN) - Russian Deputy Defense Minister Alexander Fomin and Myanmar Air Force Commander Maung Maung Kyaw have discussed military and military-technical cooperation between the two countries at a recent meeting in Moscow, the Russian Defense Ministry's information department said on Friday.
"The sides discussed key issues concerning bilateral interaction in military and military-technical matters and reiterated their interest in further strengthening ties between the Armed Forces of the two countries," it said.
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu visited Myanmar on January 20-22. An intergovernmental agreement to simplify the procedure of naval ships' calls to ports of Russia and Myanmar was signed during it.
"It was agreed during the visit of the Russian defense minister that Myanmar would buy six [Sukhoi] Su-30 aircraft," Fomin said in Naypyidaw on January 22.
"We believe that Su-30 will become the main fighter of the Myanmar Air Force to protect the country's territorial integrity and deter terrorist threats. Myanmar has also shown interest in naval and land hardware made in Russia," he said.
The U.S. Department of State has condemned the Su-30 deal being prepared between Russia and Myanmar.
Myanmar's Armed Forces operate Russian-made weapons and military hardware, including Mil Mi-24, Mi-35, and Mi-17 helicopters, MiG-29 fighter jets, Yakovlev Yak-130 training jets, and Pechora-2 anti-aircraft missile systems. Servicemen from Myanmar also study at Russian Defense Ministry universities.
The Su-30 is a two-seat super-maneuverable air superiority fighter jet, which is equipped with a range of guided and unguided weapons and can be used in operations against land and overwater targets.
Russia earlier delivered 20 MiG-29SMT fighter jets to Myanmar.
A military-diplomatic source in Moscow told Interfax in 2009 that Russia and Myanmar had signed a set of contracts for the delivery of Russian combat aircraft and other weapons worth over $600 million to Myanmar.
"The core component of this package is a contract for the delivery of 20 MiG-29SMT fighter jets to Myanmar. Deliveries of helicopters and other military-purpose products are also expected to be made to Myanmar," the source said.