[World News] Malaysia Potentially Interested In Russian Air Defense Systems

Moscow ★ Malaysia is likely highly interested in acquiring Russia’s latest air defense missile systems, building on existing bilateral military-technical cooperation, Russia’s state arms exporter Rosoboronexport said Monday.

“Experts at Rosoboronexport expect an increased interest on the Malaysian side in the medium-range surface-to-air missile system Buk-M2E and the short-to-medium-range ground-based air defense system Pantsir-C1, the Kornet-E/EM and Metis-M1 anti-tank missile systems, and Mirazh, Sobol and Mangust class patrol boats,” the company said in a statement ahead of the DSA-2014 Asian International arms expo.

Rosoboronexport will discuss current and future projects with its Malaysian partners during the exhibition in Kuala Lumpur, which runs from Monday to Thursday.

“Mutually beneficial military-technical cooperation with Malaysia is developing quite dynamically. Russia has good prospects in aviation, primarily for multi-purpose fighter jets and military cargo helicopters, air defense systems, assault weapons and patrol boats,” said Nikolai Dimidyuk, the company's Director for Special Projects, who is heading the Russian delegation at the exhibition.

In addition, the expo will host a presentation of the Mi-171Sh combat transport helicopter for Malaysian officials, in addition to talks on the operations of a service and repair center for Sukhoi Su-30MKM fighters.

  ★ en.ria