Sukhoi, with sales of USD 1.5 billion in 2003, led Russia's defense industries

Sukhoi continued as Russia's biggest enterprise in the defense field in 2003, Konstantin Makienko, deputy director of the Center for the Analysis of Strategy and Technology, declared at a press conference here today, Rosbalt reported. Sukhoi has led the field since 2001, Makienko said. Its revenues last year totaled USD 1.5 billion, an increase of USD 460 million from 2002, Makienko said. Sukhoi delivered 19 SU-30MKK fighter planes to China last year in fulfillment of a contract signed in 2001. Another 4 planes went to Indonesia and 1 to Algiers.

Holding second place among military suppliers in 2003 was Uralvagonzavod, which continued to deliver parts to India for the licensed assembly of 186 T-90C tanks there. Its revenues totaled USD 749.7 million, Makienko said.

In third place in terms of revenues for military sales in 2003 was Irkut. For the year, it delivered 12 SU-30MKI fighter planes to India and 1 Be-200 to the Russian Emergencies Ministry. Irkut's revenues for 2003 came to USD 502 million.