Malaysia will take delivery of the first batch of Russian-built Sukhoi jets in May after a year-long delay partly due to the replacement of components made by Israel, a report said today.

The New Straits Times, quoting unnamed defence industry sources, said six of the 18 30-MKM Sukhois ordered in a billion-dollar deal would be delivered to the Royal Malaysian Air Force in May.

"Part of the delay is attributed to the fitting of non-Israeli components," the newspaper quoted a source as saying.

Malaysia does not have diplomatic ties with Israel and is a long-time critic of the Jewish state's policies in the Middle East.

"Russian and French-made avionics replaced the Indian-Israeli-French combination, while the Israeli electronic counter-measure system was changed to a South African variant," the source said.

Part of 2003 deal

Delivery of the jets is part of a deal conceived in 2003, when Russia agreed to send a Malaysian astronaut to the space station in return for the purchase of 18 Sukhoi 30-MKM fighter jets.

The Sukhois will eventually replace the RMAF's 14 20-year-old US-made F-5E jets and complement its 18 MiG-29N Fulcrums, the newspaper said.

Indian firm Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, which is assembling 140 Su-30MKI jets for the Indian Air Force, will provide the RMAF with technical support for equipment such as auxiliary power units as well as spares, it said.