KYIV. June 9 (Interfax-AVN) - Ukraine is a reliable partner in military-technical cooperation, who meets its international obligations, said Dmitry Peregudov, head of the Ukrainian state defense company Urkoboronprom.
"This is proved by the acceptance by the Iraqi Defense Ministry's inspection commission of a second consignment of Ukrainian armored vehicles," the Ukroboronprom chief was quoted by the Ukrainian Defense Ministry as saying.
"The performance of contracts with Iraq and Thailand and the signing of an agreement on the production of BTR-4 armored personnel carriers jointly with Kazakhstan are the evidence that the Ukrainian defense industry has a powerful potential," Peregudov said.
The implementation of such large-scale contracts with foreign customers allows the Ukrainian defense industry not only to stay afloat but also to increase its production rates, he said.
"Primarily in the interests of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. I am certain that BTR-4s will enter service in our army in the very near future," the Urkoboronprom chief said.
It was reported that earlier this week the Iraqi Defense Ministry's inspection commission accepted the second consignment of 62 new Ukrainian BTR-4 armored personnel carriers, assembled at a facility in Kharkiv, under an over $550-million contract to supply Ukrainian military hardware to Iraq.