Russia has approved the sale of three advanced high-altitude reconnaissance combat jets to Syria, said the Middle East Newsline (MENL) Wednesday.
Western intelligence sources were quoted by MENL as saying “Moscow has approved a Syrian request for three MiG-25R jets.”
Nicknamed the Foxbat-B, the aircraft deploys a reconnaissance payload that includes cameras and electronic countermeasures systems, it added.
The sources said Syria planned to use the MiG-25R for reconnaissance missions over Israel, which could help it identify targets in any war with the Jewish state.
A source in Washington, who is following the deal, was quoted by the news service as saying "we are talking about a clear leap in capability for the Syrians," while noting "it will provide Syria with its first look inside Israel."
The sources said Putin approved the deal during the visit by Syrian Defense Minister Mustafa Tlass to Moscow last month.
Tlass was said to have complained to his Russian counterpart, Sergei Ivanov, that Moscow was helping Israel's space program, including the launch last year of the Israeli Eros reconnaissance satellite – Albawaba.com
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