Soviets May Be Selling Sukhoi Jets to Syria

The Soviet Union has decided to supply Syria with at least 10 sophisticated Sukhoi jet attack aircraft as part of a deal aimed at enhancing Moscow’s military posture in the region, an Arabic-language magazine reported Tuesday.

The magazine Al Osbou al Arabi, published in Paris and widely distributed in the Middle East, said the Syrian pilots have been training in the Soviet Union since 1988 in the use of the new SU-24 bombers.

In Washington, a State Department official said the United States has no proof that a Soviet-Syria deal has been completed, although the two countries are known to have been discussing a possible SU-24 sale.

The magazine report coincided with similar recent remarks attributed to Israeli Deputy Chief of Staff Ehud Barak.

The London-based magazine Mid East Mirror, in its April 3 edition, said Barak told journalists April 2 that “Syria is continuing to build up its military might and remains the most realistic enemy in a conventional war.”

MIGs in Inventory

“The MIG-29 (Fulcrum) it has received could become operational this year, and it may soon add Sukhoi 24 (strategic bombers) to its arsenal,” Barak was quoted as saying.

The Soviet Union is also reportedly selling the SU-24s to Libya.

The State Department official in Washington, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the U.S. government is mystified that Damascus would want aircraft with such a long range because every target in Israel is within range of warplanes already in the Syrian arsenal.

Syria, which borders Israel in the south, would find it difficult to penetrate Israel’s dense and effective air defense. However, shorter-range high-performance planes like the MIG-29--already in the Syrian inventory--would be more suitable for such an attack.

“The SU-24 doesn’t make sense for Syria,” the official said. “But it’s new technology that they don’t have, and that’s always a drawing card.”