December 9, 2005: India is buying 16 MiG-29 fighters, which have been modified to operate from aircraft carriers. With training, spare parts and such, this deal amounts to over $400 million. Russia is also offering India Su-22 heavy bombers as well, which would provide yet another edge over rival Pakistan. Russian arms exporters are also looking for government assistance in financing lease deals.
December 8, 2005: Chechnya is no longer considered a real threat to Russia, but rather an expensive training area for security forces and special operations troops. The Islamic terrorist groups are spreading into other parts of the Caucasus, but not to the extent that the local police cannot handle it.
December 2, 2005: In a major boost to the weapons industry, Iran is buying nearly two billion dollars worth of anti-aircraft missile system (29 TOR-M1 vehicles), patrol boats, spare parts and services. Currently, Russian arms sales run about six billion dollars a year, so the Iran sale, most of which will be completed in a year, is a big boost.
