Who is arming Ukraine?
According to the report of the Stockholm Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) "The main directions of international arms supplies in 2013 year" (Trends in International Arms Transfer, 2013) Ukraine in the indicated year ranked eighth in the list of global suppliers weapons. In the period of 2009 – 2013, enterprises of the Ukrainian military-industrial complex (MIC) supplied three percent of the total world arms exports. Of the total volume of military products produced by this country, 21 received a percentage of China, eight percent - Pakistan, seven percent - Russia. According to analysts, Ukraine also intends to expand its presence in the drug market of South-East Asia and Africa.
In March, the state concern Ukroboronprom announced that one of its enterprises (KMBM named after A. Morozov) signed a contract for the supply of five BTR-4 armored personnel carriers for the Indonesian Navy. Representatives of the concern said that if the first batch satisfied the Indonesian side, then in the future the defense department of this country will acquire more 50 machines. Ukroboronprom issued a statement on this matter stating that during the competition, the Indonesian government preferred the Ukrainian rather than the Russian proposal.
One of the enterprises of Ukroboronprom at the beginning of 2014 signed a contract for the supply of 50 main combat vehicles to an unnamed African country tanks (MBT) T-64BV-1. Despite the lack of official information, experts suggest that the contract is concluded with the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Vadim Fedosov, director of the department of enterprises of armored vehicles, artillery weapons, automotive, engineering and special equipment of Ukroboronprom, noted that this means a significant advancement of Ukraine in the world market of armored vehicles.
According to experts, the actual military-technical cooperation (MTC) of Ukraine with Europe does not match the potential of the Ukrainian defense-industrial complex, which is actively trying to develop this sphere. In particular, in 2013, the Croatian Defense Ministry ordered the delivery of seven MiG-21bis fighters to be held this year. Currently, five MiG-21 are being upgraded at the Odessa Aircraft Repair Plant.
At the same time, the MTC of Ukraine and the NATO countries is increasing. In February of this year, a contract was signed with the American company Wilard Marine (Willard Marine) for the supply of four patrol vessels for Ukraine under the US Foreign Aid to FMS (Foreign Military Sales) program. According to the published statement, "Wilard Marin" the contract includes an option for the fifth patrol ship.
According to a number of Western experts, the main priority of Ukraine in the field of military-technical cooperation in the near future will be a reorientation towards Europe and the USA in order to ensure maximum independence from Russian military technologies.
During the 2008 – 2012 period, Ukraine was quite active in the supply of arms and military equipment (IWT) to foreign countries. The main types of weapons sold were the main battle tanks, armored combat vehicles (BBM) for various purposes, combat aircraft and helicopters, missile weapons, small arms and light weapons (SALW) of various types.
During this period, Ukraine exported mainly equipment that it inherited after the collapse of the Soviet Union. The exceptions are the BTR-3 of various modifications and a number of upgraded T-72 tanks. Supplies and transfers of warships in 2008 – 2012 were not recorded. As for SALW, the bulk of the exported products of this category are hunting, civil and sporting weapons.
The geography of supplies of Ukrainian weapons and military equipment included Asian, African, and Middle Eastern countries, as well as countries of the post-Soviet space. At the same time, a relatively small number of both military equipment and small arms were purchased by countries with a highly developed military industry, in particular, the United States, Great Britain, Israel, and South Africa. The largest importers of Ukrainian weapons and military equipment are Azerbaijan, Chad, the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Major Importers
According to SIPRI, the largest number of Ukrainian tanks acquired Ethiopia - 171 T-72 and T-72B1. Sudan bought a few less - X-NUMX T-155X72 tanks and outdated T-1 tanks. The third country to acquire large batches of Ukrainian tanks is the Democratic Republic of Congo - 55 T-130 and T-72. Thus, in the 55 – 2008 period, the export of Ukrainian MBTs was made up by obsolete T-2012 and T-55 tanks, and African countries became the main buyers, on whose territory potential conflicts might occur.
The largest importer of Ukrainian-made BBM was Thailand, which acquired 121 BTR-3 of various modifications. 72 units BTR-4 purchased Iraq. Two BTR-3 were delivered to the USA, 12 of the same machines - Chad, 10 - to Sudan. In total, the 2008-2012 delivered 217 new Ukrainian BTR-3 and BTR-4 various modifications. Old BBM delivered twice as much - 440 units. A large batch of BTR-70 (part of which was delivered with the dismantled combat module) in the number of 132 units was purchased by Azerbaijan, which also purchased 14 universal multi-purpose tractor BTS-5B (version BREM-1). Georgia acquired the 45 obsolete BTR-70 and BMP-1.
The most significant buyer of Ukrainian artillery in the period under review was the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which was delivered 12 self-propelled units (SAU) 2S1 "Carnation», 12 ACS 2S3 «Acacia», 12 multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS) BM-21 "Grad», 36 D-30 howitzers and six millimeter 82 mortars. A significant part of the Ukrainian artillery in 2008 – 2012 was acquired by Azerbaijan, which purchased the 54 ACS 2C1 “Gvozdika” and six ACS 2C3 “Acacia”. 41 ACS 2C1 and 30 MLRS BM-21 was delivered to Sudan. In this segment, African and post-Soviet countries also dominate, acquiring 78 percent of all artillery shells and MLRS.
In the combat segment aviation the largest importer of Ukrainian aircraft cannot be unambiguously identified - all importing countries purchased relatively equivalent small volumes of combat aircraft. In particular, a batch of five attack aircraft Su-25 and Su-25 UTG acquired Chad, Pakistan - two military transport aircraft / tanker aircraft Il-78. The Ukrainian training aircraft for basic flight training L-39 were in certain demand, 16 of which were purchased by Estonia, seven from Latvia, four from Armenia, and one from South Africa. Ukrainian aviation in small batches was also purchased by other African countries. For example, the Democratic Republic of the Congo acquired two Su-25 attack aircraft.
Algeria became the largest importer of Ukrainian missiles, purchasing a total of 91 units, including 54 Р-27. 21 rocket R-27 acquired Azerbaijan, 18 - Belarus, 12 - Bangladesh. 12 units P-24, P-27, P-73 acquired Italy. Thus, the African country is also leading in this segment.
Regarding SALW, it should be noted that a significant share of pistols, revolvers, rifles and carbines was supplied by Ukraine to the European and North American markets in the United States, Germany, and the United Kingdom. The main buyers of military weapons were again African countries - Chad, Kenya, Uganda, Sudan, and also the countries of the Middle East - Yemen, Syria, the United Arab Emirates. A large batch of Ukrainian machine guns and submachine guns (13 700 units) purchased the UK.
In the non-military weapons procurement segment, European countries are leading, while the overwhelming number of army SALWs have been acquired by African countries, including countries with unstable domestic conditions, such as Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Chad.
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