Malaysia has awarded a RM533 million contract to France's Thales Optronique SA to supply aviation electronics for 18 Russian-made Sukhoi fighter jets, a senior defence minister said today.

Najib Razak said the company would supply the parts over a period of 28 months.

Najib, who witnessed the signing of the contract, was cited by Bernama news agency as saying that seven airforce officers would be sent to Russia next March to monitor production of the fighter jet.

The aircraft are expected to be delivered from mid-2006.

Thales was represented by its chairman Christian Breyton and project director Eric Scognamigou at the ceremony.

The 900 million dollar deal to acquire the fighter jets from Russia is part of Malaysia's military upgrading programme, which was revived after it was derailed by the 1997-1998 Asian financial crisis. - AFP