Russian arms exports to CIS states will exceed $150 Mln in 2012 - service

Russia's weapons exports to Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) member countries could stand at $150 million to $200 million this year, Konstantin Biryulin, deputy director of the Federal Service for Military-Technological Cooperation, said.

"As far as CIS countries are concerned, our deliveries of weapons and military hardware to them could reach $150 million -$200 million this year. The portfolio of orders in this area is quite large, approaching $1 billion," he told Interfax-AVN on the sidelines of the Aerosvit-2012 aerospace show in Kiev.

Russia's closest allies - Belarus, Kazakhstan, Armenia and Tajikistan - have been acting as the largest markets for Russian weapons, Biryulin said.

"We have a certain volume of contracts with these countries. We are fulfilling them," he said.

The present-day level of military-technological cooperation with CIS member states matches their security needs and economic possibilities, he said.

CIS member countries are mostly interested in Russian-made aircraft and air defense systems, the official said.

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