ST. PETERSBURG: Russian state-run arms exporter Rosoboronexport said that exports of naval technology and equipment are predicted to reach $2 billion in 2007, which is less than in 2006.
“It is less than last year,” said Vladimir Pakhomov, Rosoboronexport's first deputy director general. “Last year we saw a higher figure because we have completed a number of large contracts.”
Russia exported $8 billion worth of weapons and hardware in 2006. Arms exports amounted to $6.5 billion and spare parts and military services to $1.5 billion. Naval technology and equipment accounted for 39% of total arms sales, or about $2.5 billion.
China imported one Project 636 diesel submarine and one Project 956EM destroyer, Rif-M (NATO designation SA-N-6) naval air defense system, and a number of anti-ship missiles.
Russia agreed last year to build three more Talwar Class frigates for India at about $1.1 billion, and is expected to finish the modernization of the Admiral Gorshkov aircraft carrier, which Russia has sold to India for $1.5 billion.
Pakhomov said Rosoboronexport expected further increases in naval arms exports in 2008 through expanding its sales distribution.
“We have rearmed India and China, and now it is time to deal with other countries,” he said.
Rosoboronexport earlier highlighted its strengthening cooperation with traditional African importers of Russian weapons – Algeria, Libya, Angola, Ethiopia, and Uganda – as well as progress in cooperation with Morocco, Botswana, Namibia, Mozambique, and Burkina-Faso.
Recent years have also seen a dramatic rise in military technical cooperation with Latin America and Southeast Asia.
Indonesia said it had plans to buy four Kilo-class and two Amur 950 (Lada-class) diesel submarines from Russia because they are superior to their German and French equivalents in terms of reliability and cost.
Venezuela could sign a contract for the supply of five Project 636 Kilo-class diesel submarines and four state-of-the-art Project 677 Amur submarines during President Hugo Chavez's visit to Russia this week.
