Procurement: Russian Jet Engines For Iran

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October 20, 2007: Russia has agreed to sell Iran 50 RD-33 jet engines, for three million dollars each. The RD-33 is used in the MiG-29, and is also built under license by India. Iran will use the engines in its locally designed and built Azarakhsh (based on 1970s era U.S. F-5 fighters.) The four Azarakhsh built so far, used RD33 engines taken from otherwise inoperable MiG-29s. Russia is also willing to provide Iran with electronic components for aircraft radars and other avionics. The RD-33 jet engine sale could be interpreted to be a sale of weapons, thus triggering a U.S. embargo on some Russian firms. The Russians are generally unconcerned about such moves.