Russia's position on the global arms market is strengthening, despite intensified sanctions regime and unfair competition, Russian President Vladimir Putin said at a meeting of the Commission on military and technical cooperation with foreign states.
According to the Russian leader, items worth $13 billion were shipped in 2019. "This is more than $2 billion more than the same period last year," he said, noting that Russia’s position on the global arms market is strengthening, despite intensified sanctions regime and unfair competition.
The head of state noted that international exhibitions make a great contribution into defense export promotion. Seven relevant exhibitions took place in Russia this year, the Russian president noted.
Putin has also called to consider changing requirements of buyers of Russian arms.
"There is a need to analyze the situation on regional markets on a going basis, in real time, take into consideration changing demands of buyers and satisfy their growing requirements," the Russian leader stressed, adding that the portfolio of orders for Russian weapons is generally at a stable level and is over $50 billion.
"High demand for domestic defense products is a serious incentive to improve forms and methods of work and keep leading positions in this high-technology segment," the head of state said.
Head of the Analytical Section of the Institute of Political and Military Analysis, Alexander Khramchikhin, speaking to Vestnik Kavkaza, noted that the main contribution to the growth of sales of Russian weapons could make a deal with Turkey for the supply of anti-aircraft missile systems. "In general, military contracts are being implemented for several years, and such changes in sales statistics can be associated with different stages of their execution. However, it can be said with confidence that Turkey's contract for S-400 could give a big increase," he said.
Deputy director of the Centre for Analysis of Strategies and Technologies Konstantin Makienko agreed with Khramchikhin. "Arms shipment alone is an indicator of past years achievements. In 2018, Russia entered into contracts amounting to some $20 billion, this is the second largest historical maximum after 2015 ($26 billion). Accordingly, this year's growth is caused by contracts concluded in 2015 or contracts concluded in 2018. It’s difficult to say more accurately, but I can assume that the growth in sales this year was also affected by the demand for Russian air defense systems and the shipment of S-400 to Turkey," the expert said.
