Ukraine’s Arms Exports Remain Stable

Last year Ukraine preserved its 1999 level of arms exports, UNIAN quotes an Ukrspetseksport (Ukrainian Special Exports, the state’s weapons export monopoly) representative. According to him, this state of affairs “is tantamount to success, despite the absence of $150 million that Pakistan owes us for the tanks sold three years ago.”

He also disclosed that Ukrainian air defense systems and naval equipment were selling the best in 2000, while the number of contracts on the repair, maintenance and modernization of foreign military hardware by Ukrainian enterprises rose three and a half times.

Experts believe Ukraine earned a total $400-500 million in 2000. Incidentally, Jane’s Defense Weekly reports that the export of weapons from Russia reached $4.15 billion in 2000, up 22% from 1999.