Russia 'may get Italian armoured cars'
Lince 'got positive rating' says Russian industry source
09 March, 18:18
(ANSA) - Moscow, March 9 - The Russian army may get Italy's
Lince (Lynx) armoured car, an anonymous source told the Interfax
news agency Tuesday.Talks on buying a "large shipment" of the highly rated vehicle are under way, according to the source, said to be "in the Russian military-industrial complex".
"This model has already been tested in Russia and got a positive rating from Russian military sources," the source said.
He gave no further details, saying that the price and conditions of sale had to be set.
According to unofficial sources at the Russian defence ministry, Moscow may buy up to 1,000 Lince cars.
But a Russian strategic expert, Ruslan Pukhov, pointed out that, unlike Israeli-built drones or Mistral-class French warships, Russia already produces the Tigr (Tiger) armoured car which is very similar to the Lince.
The Lince has been deployed in Iraq, Afghanistan and other Italian missions abroad and has been credited with saving soldiers' lives.
photo: a Lince in Afghanistan
