Radio Free Europe asks the question, "Does Algeria's rejection of Russian jets suggest bigger problems?"Algeria's reported demand that Russia take back about 15 MiG 29SMT Fulcrum fighter jets delivered under a deal signed in 2006 would be, if true, unprecedented in the history of Russian arms sales...
Independent military analyst Aleksandr Khramchikhin, who is with the Institute for Military and Political Analysis, was quoted by AP as saying on February 19 that the Algerians' move is the result of the steady deterioration of the Russian military and the arms industry under President Vladimir Putin. Khramchikhin argued that "the military-industrial complex has declined because of the [post-Soviet] personnel exodus and the loss of key technologies. Control over quality of manufacturing is virtually nonexistent. The number of complaints has grown sharply."
"Kommersant" reported on February 19 that a much-publicized dispute with India over the timing and cost involved in Russia's modernizing the aircraft carrier "Admiral Gorshkov" for India has become so complicated that the Russian Navy might purchase the vessel instead.
