Russia to increase weapon exports

The Russian Conventional Weapons Agency intends to increase the volume of exports of weapons and military equipment by $100m in 2001 compared to 2000, General Director of the agency Alexander Nozdrachev told journalists. In 2000, Russia exported military equipment worth $521m, he noted. It mainly consisted of rifles, rounds of ammunition, anti-tank equipment, portable missile launchers, anti-aircraft defense systems and optical equipment. Nozdrachev declared the world market very tough with a significant competitiveness and political pressure, RBC reports. He added that the total volume of Russia's arms exports is supposed to reach $4.3-4.5bn in 2001.