Melmothtw,
Korotkov clarified his response. Remember the initial report was that the Russian Aircraft Corporation had delivered 6 MiG-31s to Syria. Korotov also refuted claims that Russian Air Force MiG-31s had deployed. He would look a bit of an idiot if images leaked or if Syrian state TV started showing footage.
Russia denies delivering MiG-31 fighter jets to Syrian regime
Sergei Korotkov, CEO of Russian Aircraft Corporation (RSK) MiG, denied rumors that his company had delivered 6 MiG-31 fighter jets to Syria. Meanwhile the company’s press officer has also denied similar rumors that they have signed a contract with Egypt for the sale of several other fighter jets.
Last week media reports claimed that Russian military aircraft manufacturer RSK MiG had delivered 6 MiG-31 supersonic fighter jets to the Syrian regime as partial fulfillment of a protocol signed in 2007 where the Syrian regime purchased a total of 8 such jets.
Speaking to the press in Moscow, RSK MiG CEO Sergei Korotkov denied that they had delivered 6 MiG-31 fighter jets as part of an agreement signed before the Syrian crisis erupted. “We did not deliver any jets to Syria nor do we have any plans to use them there ourselves,” he said.
Russia is pushing for a broad international coalition in the fight against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) featuring Syria, Iraq , the Kurdistan Regional Government, as well as other nations in the region.
Korotkov added that the company’s portfolio contained nearly USD 4 billion in orders. “This year we’ll be deliver 32 jets to the Russian Defense Ministry as well as international customers such as India, where we’ll be delivering 8 planes,” he added.
Meanwhile RSK MiG press officer Anastasia Kravchenko denied that the company had signed a contract with Egypt for the sale of MiG-29 fighter jets. Dismissing such allegations that have appeared in the press, she said such claims were “exaggerated” and “entirely based on speculation.”
Russia denies delivering MiG-31 fighter jets to Syrian regime