September 10, 2006:
Yemen is buying 32 MiG-29 fighters, and is paying $ 41 million each. Considered roughly similar to the American F-16, the Russians typically sell Mig-29s at 30-60 percent less than equivalent F-16s. Yemen had earlier (2001-5) bought another 26 MiG-29s. This sale is a major boost for MiG, which has been losing market share, and sales, to Russian competitor Sukhoi (which sells the F-15 equivalent, the Su-27/3x series.) With the help of the Yemen deal, MiG sales will be at least $1.1 billion for 2007, more than four times 2006 sales of $245 million.