Russian defense sector growing considerably, but share of civilian products small - Rogozin

MOSCOW. March 24 (Interfax) - The average annual growth rates in Russia's defense industry in 2015-2016 exceeded 11%, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin said.

"The average annual growth rates in the defense industry in 2015-2016 amounted to 11.7%, including 14.3% for military products and 0.6% for civilian products," Rogozin said at an Industry and Trade Ministry board meeting.

"The share of civilian products in the defense sector's output was 16.7%," he said.

"It's not a lot, and this certainly cannot suit us," he said.

The amount of industrial products manufactured by defense industry enterprises in 2016 went up by 10.7%, including 9.5% for military products and 16.9% for civilian products.

The growth rates [in 2016] were influenced by the high 2015 base for military products, which actually saw 20% growth from 2014, and at the same time the low 2015 base for civilian products [manufactured in the defense sector], which saw a decline by 13.4% [from 2014], he said.