KYIV. Nov 7 (Interfax-AVN) - Ukrainian arms, special and dual-purpose services exports will amount to about $650-700 million in 2006, according to forecasts of the Center for Army Research, Conversion, and Disarmament.
The figure was aired by the Center Director Valentin Badrak at a news conference in Kyiv on Monday.
According to him, aircraft and ship engines may account for about 20% of all exports, and armaments overhaul and modernization for at least 15%.
He pointed out that despite the minimal state participation in developing new arms (the state defense order does not exceed 5%), Ukraine managed both to hold its ground in the international arms market, selling $650-700 million's worth of weapon systems in the past few years, and retain a lead in a number of international arms market niches.
For instance, the most promising Ukrainian arms include PGMs, designed by the Kyiv-based Luch Design Bureau, such as Kombat, Stugna, Skif, and Barier ATGMs; PGM countermeasures, including the helicopter-carried Adros optronic suppression system, designed to be mounted on Mil and Kamov helicopters; and the Zaslon active tank protection system. Badrak also named the Kolchuga, the P-18, the Barsuk, and the Mangust radars among promising Ukrainian surveillance and target designation means.
Badrak also pointed out the importance of expanding cooperation in developing new arms with European states.
He singled out the urgency of opening the Ukrainian domestic market to NATO and Russia and involving them in developing new arms for the Ukrainian Armed Forces, as well as adopting offset legislation in Ukraine as soon as possible.
According to the Center, Ukrainian arms exports amounted to $680-700 million in 2005.