Jordan's King Signs Deal On Russian Planes

17 August 2005 (RFE/RL) -- Visiting Jordanian King Abdullah signed today an agreement for the purchase of two Russian Ilyushin-76MF military transport planes.

The deal was signed on the sidelines of the MAKS 2005 international aerospace show at the Zhukovskii airfield outside of Moscow.

Interfax quoted Russian sources as saying King Abdullah also expressed interest to Russia in a possible purchase of Sukhoi-31 jets and military helicopters.

Jordan's king will later this week travel to the Black Sea resort of Sochi for a meeting with President Vladimir Putin. The monarch told ITAR-TASS that the two will discuss the situation in Iran, Iraq, and the Middle East.

(AFP/Reuters)