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Politics : Bill Clinton Scandal - SANITY CHECK -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: DMaA who wrote (58464)	8/10/1999 10:58:00 AM
From: one_less	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 67261

Ukraine hands Russia eight Tu 160s (From Defense Systems Daily) August 9th, 1999 According to Itar-Tass a deal in which the Ukraine will hand over to Russia eight Soviet-made Tu-160 strategic bombers to Russia to pay for a US$1.8 billion natural gas debt will help maintain Russia's nuclear capability. After the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, the Ukraine received 19 Tu-160 and 25 Tu-95MS strategic bombers capable of carrying missiles with nuclear warheads, although those warheads were handed over to Russia. The aircraft are in good condition and, according to senior Russian officers could be put into service quite quickly. The Russian Air Force is keen to get their hands on the aircraft, because their budgetary constraints make it impossible to order replacement aircraft from the manufacturers and the present fleet is showing signs of long usage. The ex-Ukrainian aircraft could keep the "aviation component in Russia's strategic nuclear forces going until 2015-2020" Although Ukraine hoped that the transfer would pay for all their natural gas debt to Russia, the actual value of the aircraft is disputed and a joint 'group of experts' is trying to agree a valuation. REF XQQEE XQQAR