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Russian arms exporter reaches several agreements with Turkey at IDEF-2015 arms fair

Russian officials previously said that the Turkish side was interested in Russia’s antiaircraft defence systems, including the Antey-2500
Antey-2500 surface-to-air missile system ITAR-TASS/Marina Lystseva
Antey-2500 surface-to-air missile system
© ITAR-TASS/Marina Lystseva

ISTANBUL, May 7. /TASS/. Russia’s arms exporter Rosoboronexport has reached a number of agreements with the Turkish colleagues at the International Defense Industry Fair IDEF-2015 in Turkey. The work on the agreements will be started in May, the company’s delegation head Anatoly Aksyonov told journalists on Thursday.

According to him, the Russian special exporter has already found "many partners in the Turkish industry that have already pooled efforts in certain spheres of work."

"I think that after the holidays we will start the work on the agreements we have reached with the Turkish colleagues," Aksyonov said.

He declined to specify the projects, only saying that they are both in the sphere of ground equipment and the Air Force and Navy.

According to Aksyonov, Rosoboronexport’s stand at IDEF-2015 has been visited by "some 4-delegations from 32 countries." "We record only the meetings that have a continuation," said the company representative.

Russian officials previously said that the Turkish side was interested in Russia’s antiaircraft defence systems, including the Antey-2500.

JSC Rosoboronexport is the sole state intermediary agency for Russia’s exports/imports of defence-related and dual use products, technologies and services. The corporation was set up by a decree of the President of Russia and is charged with implementation of the policy of the state in the field of military-technical cooperation between Russia and foreign countries. The official status of Rosoboronexport guarantees the Russian government’s support in all export operations.

Russia has been taking part in IDEF since 1995. More than 50 delegations from 17 countries visited Rosoboronexport’s stand in 2013, suggesting keen interest in Russian arms in the region.

The Russian-Turkish military-technical cooperation dates back to March 16, 1921 when the Treaty of Friendship and Brotherhood was signed between Soviet Russia and Turkey. Upon its conclusion, Russia began providing financial and military-technical aid to the Turkish government. Turkey’s accession to NATO did not become an obstacle to further development of ties with Russia. As a result, Russian BTR-80 APCs, Mi-17 helicopters, anti-tank missile systems, and a variety of small arms are in service with the Turkish Armed Forces.