MOSCOW, February 13 (RIA Novosti) - Russia will deliver 12 Su-MKM fighters to Malaysia before the end of 2008, a spokesman for the Sukhoi aircraft manufacturer said on Wednesday.

The Southeast Asian country will receive a total of 18 Su-30MKM fighters under a $900-million contract signed in 2003. The first six airplanes were delivered in 2007.

The Su-30MKM is a multi-role Flanker version based on the Su-30MKI model and features a customized avionics package built to Malaysian specifications.

The airplanes are being manufactured at Sukhoi's Irkutsk aircraft manufacturing plant in Siberia.

Malaysia currently operates a mixed fighter fleet with the Russian MiG-29N Fulcrum and the U.S.-made F/A-18D Hornet and F-5 Tiger in service.

According to some sources, the Malaysian Royal Air Force is considering a new Su-30MKM contract.