Russian weapon producers reject US accusations

The Russian state unitary enterprise Equipment Design Bureau, located in Tula, announced it had not signed contracts with Iraq for supplies of the Kornet anti-tank guided missile system or any other types of weapons. The company's General Designer Alexander Shipunov made this announcement and noted that they had not even negotiated this issue. He believes that the USA has brought these accusations to excuse failures of the US Armed Forces at the initial stage of military action in Iraq.

In 2002, the US government introduced sanctions against some Russian companies, including Equipment Design Bureau, for reportedly registered supplies of anti-tank systems to Lybia, Syria and Sudan.