The order book of Russia’s state arms seller Rosoboronexport (part of the state hi-tech corporation Rostec) has exceeded $50 billion, Rostec CEO Sergei Chemezov said.
“Over the past 18 years, Rosoboronexport has become one of the world’s leaders in the delivery of armaments and military hardware and has achieved record figures. Today Russia confidently holds the 2nd place in the world by the volume of military and technical cooperation. Rosoboronexport’s order book tops $50 billion and the aggregate volume of the deliveries over all these years has exceeded $150 billion,” the company’s press office quoted Chemezov as saying.
On November 4, Rosoboronexport marked 18 years since it was established. The company was set up in 2000 by the Russian president’s decree.
“We are constantly improving and offering ever new weapon systems to foreign customers and they are frequently the best in the world by their characteristics and competitive by their quality and their price. Over 200 Rosoboronexport employees have been decorated with state and departmental awards,” Chemezov said.
In 2018, Rosoboronexport took part in 16 international exhibitions and forums and intends to attend six more events before the end of this year. The Russian state arms seller took part in the Eurasian Air Show in Turkey’s Antalya, the International Far Eastern Maritime Show in Vladivostok and the ADAS-2018 defense exhibition in the Philippines for the first time. The company plans to take part in another new exhibition, the EDEX-2018, in Egypt at the end of this year.
Rosoboronexport signed over 1,100 contracts to the tune of about $19 billion and supplied weapons to more than 40 countries in 2018.
“In 2018, we supplied weapons and military equipment to more than 40 countries. At the same time, we signed over 1,100 contracts worth about $19 billion, which is nearly 25% more than the total value of deals reached last year,” he said.
“These statistics show that the quality of Russian weapons and their proven characteristics are a determining factor for our partners,” Mikheyev added.
According to Rosoboronexport, the company expanded its range of military products in 2018. The company currently promotes some new kinds of military equipment on the global market, including the Viking and Tor-E2 anti-aircraft missile systems, the Sprut-SDM1 light floating tank, the Karakut and Sarsar vessels, the Il-78MK-90A aerial tanker and the Il-76MD-90A (E) military cargo aircraft.
“Despite unprecedented competition, Rosoboronexport continues to strengthen its position on the global market. Not that long ago, we signed a contract to deliver the S-400 Triumf missile defense systems to India, which is the biggest deal the company has ever made,” Mikheyev stressed.
Head of Russia’s Federal Service for Military and Technical Cooperation Dmitry Shugayev said on October 17 that S-400 deliveries to India would begin within the next two years. According to the contract valued at over $5 billion, New Delhi will receive five S-400 regimental sets.
The S-400 (NATO reporting name: SA-21 Growler) is the most advanced long-range anti-aircraft missile system that went into service in 2007. It is designed to destroy aircraft, cruise and ballistic missiles, including medium-range ones, and can also be used against ground objectives. The S-400 complex can engage targets at a distance of 400 km and at an altitude of up to 30 km.
