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.