Motor Sich CEO Vyacheslav Boguslayev confirmed the companies are in talks.

"We are discussing issues regarding this topic," he said.

Motor Sich delivers engines to 11 countries around the world, Boguslayev said, adding that "we have nothing against Russia being the twelfth country."

The Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) is "happy" with the quality of home-made UAVs, Verba said on Friday, while not ruling out that the Defense Ministry may buy UAVs abroad.

He said Vega's UAVs would be able to compete with those produced abroad by 2013.

According to various estimates, the Russian military needs up to 100 UAVs and at least 10 guidance and control systems to ensure effective battlefield reconnaissance.

Russia has reportedly signed two UAV contracts with Israel. Under the first contract, signed in April 2009, Israel delivered two Bird Eye 400 systems (worth $4 million), eight I View MK150 tactical UAVs ($37 million) and two Searcher Mk II multi-mission UAVs ($12 million).

The second contract was for the purchase of 36 UAVs, worth a total of $100 million, to be delivered later this year.

Russia and Israel are currently negotiating the establishment of a joint $300-million venture to produce UAVs.

Russian Defense minister Anatoly Serdyukov has said that alongside Israel, France could become one of Russia's partners in making UAVs.

Share This Article With Planet Earth

del.icio.us	Digg	Reddit
YahooMyWeb	Google	Facebook

Related Links
- UAV News - Suppliers and Technology

Northrop Grumman to Bid For Missile Defense Objective Simulation Framework Upgraded Aegis Weapon Systems Proven Operational F-35's DAS Demonstrates Ballistic Missile Defense Capabilities Kuwait to buy Patriot missiles Future Missile System For Gripen B-1 Carries Record-Setting Missile Load Raytheon's SLAMRAAM Completes First FMTV Launcher Test Firing Boeing, Raytheon launch new missile Ukraine May Deliver Engines For Russian UAVs US drone strikes kill 17 militants in Pakistan Two US drone strikes kill 15 militants in Pakistan Aerovel Testing Flexrotor Long-Endurance Robotic Aircraft With VTOL Airborne Multi-Intelligence Lab Demonstrates Intelligence Integration MEADS Completes CDR And Is Ready For Flight Test Boeing Vigilare Enters Service With RAAF General Dynamics' Warrior Antenna Terminals SELEX Galileo Awarded Contract To Supply Praetorian DASS Iron Fist Brigade In Huge Canada Army Exercise Bushmaster Shortlisted For Canadian Army TAPV Program NSWC Crane Opens Special Weapons Assessment Facility India to buy more Mi-17 military helos US clears Colombia for military assistance Arms deal will anger Iran, cheer Israel Delivery Of Weapons System Supports Frontline Typhoons U.S., China to resume military talks Brazil opposed to NATO role in S. Atlantic US, Russian defense chiefs promote deeper ties Japan's re-elected PM moves on yen, faces China's fury Boeing Receives Task Order For Design Of Free Electron Laser Lab Demonstrator Lasers could protect helicopters from harm New System Developed To Test And Evaluate High-Energy Laser Weapons Truck-borne laser weapon to be on way soon