Russian president says production of missile defense systems should grow
MOSCOW. April 25 (Interfax) - Russian President Vladimir Putin has reiterated the need to increase the production of missile defense systems, including those that form the backbone of air defense shields Russia has been building together with Belarus and Kazakhstan.
"There is a need to enhance the capacities for manufacturing our most in-demand air defense systems, as well as further develop the production of high-accuracy weapons used in air defense," Putin said at a session of the commission for Russia's military-technical cooperation with foreign states.
Russia's S-300 and S-400 surface-to-air missile systems, as well as Pantsir-S1 missile and gun systems are leaders on the world's weapons market today thanks to their technical and combat characteristics, reliability and simplicity, the president said.
"More than 70 countries of the world use Russian-made air defense hardware. It also forms the backbone of joint defense shields of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan. Russian-made air defense complexes have also been purchased by states of the Middle East, Southeast Asia and North Africa. Latin America's interest in them is growing as well," Putin said.
Russia accounts for about one-third of the world's deliveries of missile defense systems, the president said. Russia's share in these exports grew from 13% to 20% in 2013, he added.
"It is a very significant result and a very serious step forward," Putin said.
