MIG 29 planes procured [Archives:2002/28/Front Page]

President Ali Abdulah Saleh launched this month the second phase of the annual military training program by adding a number of warships to the navy force. The new fleet includes Polish-made NS-722 landing tank ship capable of carrying a detachment of troops along with ten tanks or ten personnel carriers. It is a also capable of carrying helicopters. This modern landing tank ship is equipped with several torpedoes. Yemen also received the first batch of sophisticated Russian-made Mig-29 Fulcrum fighter jets to back up its air force.
Yemens air force includes 30 fighter and ground attack aircraft, 25 fighters including five MiG-29s, 18 transport planes and 25 helicopters, according to the International Institute for Strategic Studies.
Minister of Interior, Dr. Rashad al-Alimi, pointed out that the USA, Italy and a number of Arab states are supporting Yemen to establish its patrol force to monitor its long coastline, and islands scattered in the Red Sea and Arab Sea. Some twenty officers from the ministry of interior will receive training in the United States to this effect.
Saleh said in his word for commissioning of the new ship that Yemen is a country of peace, but it wont stay silent towards any act of hostility, adding that theres no development without strong military forces capable of defending the achievements of the country. Building a strong army is not a threat to any country but to defend the sovereignty, achievements, and unity of our country, Saleh added. He concluded that Yemens armed forces are an essential pillar for the stability of the region.


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