MOSCOW, August 20 (AVN) - The modernisation of the S-125 Pechyora-2A surface-to-air missile (SAM) system is completed, Igor Ashurbeili, director general of the Almaz research and production enterprise, told the Military News Agency on Monday.
The system, which is currently in the production shops of the enterprise, will be delivered to the state proving range for tests this week.
The Chinese party has informed on successful implementation of the contract on control systems supplies, Ashurbeili said. This is the first contract which the enterprise implemented by itself without any help from the Rosoboronexport state-owned arms trader. "The contract is completed ahead of schedule, without any claims or proclamations. As a result the Chinese Defence Ministry sent a thank-you letter to the Russian Defence Ministry," Ashurbeili added.
As many as 31 foreign delegations comprising over 1,500 people visited the enterprise's bench at the MAKS 2001 international aerospace show last week. During one of those visits "the enterprise received a new order from a country that had never been viewed as a possible trade partner," Ashurbeili stressed.