Russia Sells Weapons Worth $5.2bn So Far This Year: Official

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Rosoboronexport, Russia’s state intermediary agency for weapons trade, has signed contracts amounting to $5.2 billion since the beginning of 2019 and exported vehicles and weapons abroad for $4.9 billion, state-run news agency TASS reported.

“Just in the first four months of 2019, Rosoboronexport exported Russian weapons and military vehicles amounting to $4.9 billion, as well as signed new contracts for $5.2 billion,” the company’s press service said on Tuesday, citing Rosoboronexport CEO Alexander Mikheev.

According to him, the result comes after ambitious marketing work of the Russian parties to military and technical cooperation and production companies. “Its key element is public demonstrations of the military vehicles in expos and parades,” the CEO said.

The Victory Day parade at the Red Square (held every year on May 9) will feature the Buk-M2E and Tor-M2E missile systems, Pantsir-S1 missile system, Iskander-E mobile short-range ballistic missile system, 2S19 Msta-S self-propelled howitzer, Smerch multiple rocket launcher, Tigr-M all-terrain infantry mobility vehicle, Taifun-K and BTR-82A armored vehicles, T-72 type tanks and BMPT armored fighting vehicle, Mikheev said.

“On May 9, the Red Square parade will also feature military vehicles that have great export potential, such as the Armata tank, Bumerang infantry fighting vehicle and Kurganets-25 infantry fighting vehicle and armored personnel carrier. These vehicles taking part in the parade will demonstrate the highest quality of the Russian defense industry to our overseas partners,” the Rosoboronexport’s press service added.

According to the Russian Defense Ministry, in total, 1600 units of military vehicles will take part in the Victory Day parades across Russia.