Russian arms sales mix political aims with pragmatism

Moscow sells its best weapons to a select few but the rest are available to anyone who can afford it

Source: Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, CAST Centre for Analysis of Strategies and Technologies, Vedomosti, Russian First Channel TV, Lenta.ru

Outlook

Russian arms exports picked up after 2000 as domestic rearmament programmes generated competitive new designs. Exports support a defence sector which struggles despite large-scale state procurement. Arms sales complement foreign policy aims, and traditional customers such as China, India, Vietnam and Algeria have been joined by states where Russian engagement is more recent: Egypt, Turkey and Saudi Arabia.

Pragmatic calculations about clients’ ability to pay also count. Solvency as well as sanctions concerns mean that longstanding customer Tehran has not received the advanced S-400 air defence system offered to Ankara and Riyadh. Some customers in Africa and elsewhere are happy to buy less sophisticated arms that are adequate for their needs.

Impacts

  • The Syrian conflict has showcased several advanced weapon types in action, exciting interest among potential buyers.
  • Africa is a small but growing market: Uganda and Nigeria are the largest customers; others tend to buy refurbished equipment.
  • Former Soviet states will buy almost entirely from Russia, and Collective Security Treaty Organisation members will get discount prices.
  • India is stalling on development of a joint stealth fighter with Russia because of concerns about how advanced the technology is.

See also