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Russia's weapons exports increase 12 percent to 15 billion dollars in 2012 – Putin

Russia supplies special military equipment to 66 countries and has military cooperation agreements with 75 countries

Photo ITAR-TASS

Photo ITAR-TASS

NOVO-OGARYOVO, April 3 (Itar-Tass) – Russian President Vladimir Putin said Russia's weapons exports increased 12 percent to 15.2 billion dollars in 2012. Putin said so at a meeting of the commission for military-technical cooperation with foreign states, noting that the portfolio or orders was worth 46.3 billion dollars.

"It is one of the best indicators in this area; it is safe to say that Russia is one of the obvious leaders in sales of arms and special equipment; we have more than a quarter of the world market; next to us is the USA with a slight lead," Putin said as he summed up the results of last year weapons exports.

"Russia supplies special military equipment to 66 countries and has military cooperation agreements with 75 countries, i.e. there a prospect for developing these relations with a considerable number of states," the president noted reminding that the portfolio of orders had reached 46.3 billion dollars.

"It is necessary to develop these positive trends, because it is a very sizable contribution not only to the country's budget, but also to the development of high technologies," he underlined.

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