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Russia exports $7.4 bln of arms in 2009

28 January 2010 12:00 (UTC +04:00)

Bakuâ€“ APA-Economics. Russia exported $7.4 billion worth of military products last year, and expects to sell at least a similar amount in 2010, the head of the country’s state-run arms exporter Rosoboronexport said on Thursday, Ria Novosti reported.
Russia exported a record $8.35 billion worth of weapons in 2008.
"We do not expect arms deliveries abroad in 2010 to be lower than in 2009," Anatoly Isaikin said.
He said arms and hardware supplies for the Air Force accounted for half of all exports in 2009.
According to Isaikin, arms exports saw a steady growth in the past nine years, and increased more than 140% in the period from 2001 to 2009.
Russia’s main customers for arms were India, Algeria, China, Venezuela, Malaysia and Syria, Isaikin said.
He hinted that Russia could also sell its arms to Iraq and Afghanistan if the United States gives its approval.
"It’s too early to say if any [arms] supplies will be made to Afghanistan and what arms could be supplied there... Military officials from Iraq and Afghanistan do approach us for various arms supplies. We are ready to deliver, provided there is a corresponding decision [on the part of the U.S. administration] and if funds are allocated," Isaikin said.
He said Rosoboronexport’s contract portfolio for the next few years currently exceeded $34 billion.