Russia to buy back jets Algeria rejected

MOSCOW, Feb. 9 (UPI) -- Russia's military says it will buy back and use 24 MiG fighter jets rejected by Algeria as inferior.

After thoroughly testing the planes, the Russian Defense Ministry has agreed to pay $690 million for them, said Sergei Ivanov, a Russian deputy prime minister.

The MiG-29SMT and MiG-29UB jets were part of a $1.3 billion deal signed in March 2006 between Algeria and Russian arms export monopoly Rosoboronexport as part of a military cooperation agreement, RIA Novosti reported Monday.

After testing 15 of the jets, Algeria refused further deliveries in May 2007 and insisted Russia take back the jets because they were of inferior quality, RIA Novosti reported.

The returned jets will be used to replace outdated jets in the Russian air force that are no longer capable of performing combat duties, RIA Novosti reported.