That's true... but Belarus and Ukraine have one thing going in their favor. They are privatizing their defense industries. It's been a slow process to say the least but finally happening on a large scale. I haven't kept up with Belarus news but Ukraine has intorduced sweeping reforms to kill the culture of corruption left over from the Soviet Era. This culture of corruption has been killing Western investment in private industry in the past in all FSU countries. Ukraine is now getting large investments from the EU/US and joining the WTO opens alot of doors. The ability to receive foreign investment and attract top designers is one thing Russian R&D can't get.Big-E....translating Ukranian and Belarus defence industries into open market participation at their current funding, and given current market environment would take a lot more funding then can possibly come from Pakistan, or even China.
Well Ukraine, Georgia and the EU are constructing a gas pipeline to supply Caspian gas in European countries. A specially created international consortium of five companies already started its work on the project. Length of gas pipeline will be around 1,000 km. Part of the pipeline between Georgia and Ukraine will be constructed on the sea floor. The route will be Iran-Armenia-Georgia-Black Sea-Ukraine-Europe pipeline. They can't rely going thru Russia.Access to Iran is problematic as Iran's oil production dwindles (and hence their desire for nuclear energy production, and Russia's role in that). It seems to me same applies to China in the long run. I think Ukranian participation in the Pakistani 'deal' can not be considered a long term fource of sustained support for its industry's development.
I think as long as India consorts with Russia... Pakistan will consort with Ukraine, which seems to be a long time.
The NATO defense sector can always use partners to battle for the Russian market. They could even use Ukraine's Russian defense base as a bridge to gap other nations into NATO standards. What a wonderful opportunity!It seems to me 'NATO' defence market needs another two entrants like a proverbial 'hole in the head'
However 'even if', it seems to me breaking in will be a hard thing to do, and a process that will require partnerships and strategic partnerships at that.