Rosoboronexport
As Russia's state intermediary agency for arms exports, Rosoboronexport oversees the vast majority of Russia's arms exports and imports. Since 2007 the agency has been responsible for promoting Russian arms and authorising sales. While a number of companies retained the right to carry out repairs and carry out services, the sale of all finished products is managed by Rosoboronexport.
Rosoboronexport's stand at
Farnborough 2010
Supplying Syria
In recent years, Rosoboronexport has been Syria's main weapons supplier, accounting for 78% of Syria's imports of major conventional weapons according to Human Rights Watch (HRW 6.4.2012).
The range of weapons reported to have been sold to Syria includes: missile systems and MiG fighter aircraft (www.sipri.org); armoured vehicles (HRW 6.4.2012); an upgrade of battle tanks (CAST, February 2012); and a shipment of ammunition (Reuters 13.1.12).
Despite evidence that Syria's Assad regime has been engaged in a massive crackdown on its citizens amounting to crimes against humanity, the agency has defended its "active and dynamic" relationship with Assad's regime (New York Times 19.2.12) and has declined to renounce publicly its ties to the Syrian government. Reportedly, further deliveries of weapons are planned, to include: MiG fighter jets; repaired attack helicopters; and missile systems (Reuters 26.6.12).
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