Russian deputy defense minister Vladimir Popovkin confirmed on Friday that his ministry has signed a deal with Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) to buy several unmanned aerial vehicles. The Russian business paper Kommersant reported on Tuesday that the models are the Bird-Eye 400 (10-km range), the I-view MK150 tactical UAV (100 km) and Searcher Mk II medium-range UAV (250 km).
Popovkin did not name IAI by name. He told a Moscow news conference, "A contract has been concluded with an Israeli firm for supplies of pilotless aircraft. I was in Israel and even operated them."
Popovkin said that buying foreign spy drones was a temporary measure, and the purchases were designed "to show our industry what it [a spy drone] is." Russian defense companies, including the MiG corporation, the Russian Helicopters and the Vega Radio Engineering Corp., have failed so far to provide the military with effective spy drones.