Zambia buys 16 MiG fighters

Press, 9 February 1980, Page 7

Zambia buys 16 MiG fighters

NZPA Lusaka) Zambia has agreed on ani 585.4 million arms deal with' the Soviet Union, including! the purchase of 16 MiG] fighter planes, it has been announced in Lusaka. Early this week diplomatic [sources confirmed earlier reI ports that Lusaka was to [buy 16 Soviet MiG2l jet [fighters at a total cost of 572 million.

The Government spokes-1 [man announcing the deal; [yesterday would not give further details, but diplomatic sources said it involved buying armoured cars, tanks, and personnel carriers. Hundreds of young Zambians are also undergoing military training in the Soviet Union. In August last year, President Kenneth Kaunda of Zambia told a mass rally that his country intended

[buying more defensive [weapons, including fighter planes, to counter Rhodesian lattacks.

President Kaunda said the) North Atlantic Treaty Organisation countries had let Zambia down by.refusing to sell it the sophisticated weapons it needed, adding [that he was not hiding the I fact that Zambia was buying 'military hardware. 1 The official confirmation [of the deal followed reports that Western capitals feared such a deal might alter the balance of power in southern Africa.

About a year ago, when Zambia was under attack from Rhodesia, the Zambian leader declared that the West had declined to help Zambia and that his country’ had no. alternative but to turn elsewhere for military aid.

“Most of these weapons won’t be ready for some time because our boys are training on them. But when we are ready no-one will be [able to come here,” President Kaunda told a press • conference in Lusaka.

[ Western observers say [that with advanced Soviet [combat aircraft. Zambia would have complete air superiority.