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St. Petersburg customs seize Su-27 parts in smuggling attempt

ST. PETERSBURG, March 23 (RIA Novosti) - Customs officers at the St. Petersburg seaport have prevented an attempt to smuggle 1,500 tires for Russian-made fighters to a country in Asia, a spokesman for the local customs office said Thursday.

The officials seized 900 tires produced for Su-27 Flanker fighters concealed in containers and another 600 tires hidden in a storage facility at the port. The total value of the contraband is estimated at 5.5 million rubles (about $212,000).

The Su-27 is an air superiority fighter designed as a direct competitor for the U.S. F-14 Tomcat, F-15 Eagle, and F-16 Fighting Falcon. About 680 Su-27s were manufactured in the former Soviet Union and Russia has reportedly exported about 280 planes to various CIS and foreign countries.

China received 26 Su-27 fighters in 1991 and another 22 aircraft in 1995 before signing an agreement in 1998 for licensed manufacture of 200 planes as the Shenyang J-11. Vietnam has twelve Su-27SK and has ordered a further 24.