MOSCOW - Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad is considering a defence deal to buy Russian military aircraft during his visit to Moscow, he said in an interview today.

"We are contemplating buying your (Russian) military planes," the Nezavisimaya Gazeta newspaper quoted Mahathir as saying.

The prime minister arrived in Moscow Wednesday and is to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in the Kremlin later Thursday.

"I hope to have a close look at the Sukhoi SU-30" fighter aircraft, he added.

Mahathir is scheduled to witness a demonstration of the SU-30 during his stay in Moscow, which is aimed at improving military trade between Russia and Malaysia.

Russia announced last October that it would export anti-tank missile systems to Malaysia under the terms of a partnership deal dating back to 1994, when Russia sold MiG-29 fighter jets to Malaysia.

Space technologies

Mahathir added that he was also interested in cooperation with Russia regarding space and advanced technologies.

Mahathir's visit was initially scheduled for late last year, but was postponed after the Sept 11 attacks on New York and Washington.

Mahathir, accompanied by government representatives and Malaysian business leaders, is to head to Germany and Poland after leaving Moscow on March 16.