Russian Arms Exports Are Expected To Increase This Year

The Su-35, the latest-generation Russian fighter. Image: JSC Sukhoi

Fred Weir, CSM: Battlefield as showroom: Russian arms gain new luster after Syria campaign

Russia's brief but successful campaign in Syria has attracted international arms buyers, and could boost sales by $6 billion in 2016.

MOSCOW — There's nothing quite like a victorious war to change perceptions about a country.

Russia's reduced-but-ongoing military intervention in Syria appears to have already accomplished several of its intended geopolitical goals. But it may also be yielding a surprise windfall: stepped-up orders for the weaponry that starred in the globally televised Syria mission.

Russian media are reporting that arms exports, which were almost $15 billion last year, might leap by as much as $6 billion this year as generals, particularly in non-US aligned countries, decide they want some of those strike fighters, attack helicopters, tanks, and other ordnance that is now perceived to be effective. The business daily Kommersant cites inside sources as saying that new orders are coming in from countries like Vietnam, Indonesia, Algeria, and Pakistan, while the official TASS news agency reports that Latin America has become the fastest-growing market for Russian armaments.

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WNU Editor: The Mi-28 ground attack helicopter and the T-90 tank will be the big sellers. But Russia's weakness is that they do not have the industrial infrastructure and subcontractors to mass produce these products.