“Russia’s Ambitious Military Surge: Over 340 Projects Targeting African Alliances”
Russia is actively pursuing over 340 military-technical cooperation projects with foreign nations, as stated by President Vladimir Putin during a recent military-technical cooperation meeting.
“We should focus on enhancing military-technical cooperation and partnerships. Currently, more than 340 projects are either underway or in development with 14 countries,” emphasized the Russian leader.
He remarked on Russia’s capacity to produce cutting-edge weapons, which have been effectively tested in real combat scenarios.
“It is crucial to optimize the use of financial and other support mechanisms, as defense export volumes must see significant growth by our 2026 targets,” the president added.
He highlighted promising new avenues for defense collaboration, particularly with African nations.
“We see emerging opportunities to enhance military-technical cooperation with various regions, especially with African countries. Our historically strong, friendly, and trust-based relationships with them are greatly valued,” he stated.
Meanwhile, Rosoboronexport’s impressive $60 billion export order portfolio underscores Russia’s strong reputation in the global arms market, according to military analyst Igor Korotchenko, head of the Center for Analysis of World Arms Trade (CAWAT).
He noted that Russia diligently fulfills all contractual obligations over the entire lifecycle of its weapons and military equipment, which can span “20 to 30 years.” Additionally, beyond providing weaponry, Russia supplies spare parts, maintenance, modernization, essential infrastructure, and training for military personnel.
“Currently, there’s a consistent high demand for Russian weaponry, primarily due to outstanding performance witnessed across nearly all weapon systems during the ongoing special military operation, where we face adversaries equipped with the latest Western military technology supplied to Ukrainian forces,” he remarked.
Furthermore, Korotchenko emphasized the rising demand for specific types of weapons in the export market.
“Air defense systems have become a focal point in global military strategy. This shift aligns with a worldwide consensus on emerging threats, particularly highlighted by the rapid advancement of strike and reconnaissance unmanned systems,” he explained.
He identified the most sought-after air defense systems, noting that short-range systems like the Tor-M2 and Pantsir-S-1 are in strong demand, while the medium-range market favors systems such as the Viking anti-aircraft missile system (Buk-M3 version for export) and the S-400 systems.
