Arms exports: Moscow still leading

In autumn, harvest time, companies draw the provisional results of the year. For Russian military companies, this report is very positive.

"In 2012, Russian arms exports will exceed 10 billion euros," said Konstantin Biriouline, deputy head of the Russian Federal Service for Military and Technical Cooperation (FSVTS) during the Airshow Ukrainian Aviasvit-2012 being held Kiev.

In 2011, Russian arms exports reached, according FSVTS, 10.07 billion euros.

Experts believe that Russia will set a new record in terms of arms sales. "The Russian arms exports exceeded 5.03 billion euros in the first half of 2012. This represents an increase of 14% yoy, "reads a press release of the Russian public Rostekhnologuii group.

Between 2008 and 2011, the major importers of Russian arms were India (6.35 billion), Algeria (3.64 billion) and China (2.71 billion). The three countries have indeed purchased 55.47% of the weapons sold by Russia during this period, exports amounting to a total of 23.09 billion euros.

According to Igor Korotchenko, editor of the Russian magazine Natsionalnaïa Oborona (National Defence) and military expert, Russia focuses far more than the United States (No. 1 worldwide) on arms exports to a limited group of countries, and this trend will increase further in the years to come.However, the third largest exporter of weapons this year to return to France, with 4.34 billion euros of exports, holds 8% of global sales.

In addition, among the five major exporters in 2012 included Germany (3.56 billion euros, or 6.54% of the market) and the UK (3.2 billion euros, or 4.64% market).

Thus, it is clear that Russia will remain the second largest arms exporter in the world.

Among the factors contributing to success appears particularly Russian development of military and technical cooperation with Iraq. Baghdad wants to buy Russian weapons, including aircraft and helicopter gunships, to 3.87 billion euros. An agreement may be signed in October during the visit of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki in Moscow. According ikrakienne diplomacy, "military contracts (with Moscow) include the delivery of Sukhoi and MiG, helicopters Mi and other war material."

However, it is India which is the main importer of Russian weapons. Russia signed in 1996, 2000 and 2007 a series of contracts governing the development, delivery and licensed production in India of 230 Su-30MKI fighters for more than $ 6.2 billion. This is the most important export program current Russian military industry. India has already received more than 160 aircraft of this type.