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Source: Azeri Report
July 29, 2010
BAKU: “Rosoboronexport” has concluded a contract for delivery of C-300 zenith complexes to Azerbaijan. C-300 is an anti-air defense system already deployed in Armenia. Azerbaijan’s acquisition of the same defense system is a step to restore the anti-air defense system balance between Armenia and Azerbaijan. The sum of the deal is $300 million and it is the biggest contract for weapons acquisition concluded between the two former Soviet republics. The officials on the both sides do not confirm this information. However, the Russian media confirms the accuracy of this information. The contract was concluded last year and its performance has already started. One or two years will be needed to implement the contract, reported Russian Vedomosti.
The military sources reported that Azerbaijani Defense Ministry has concluded a contract with Rosoboronexport to supply two divisions of zenith-missile complexes C-300 PMU-2 “Favorite.” Neither Russian company, nor the Azerbaijani government has confirmed this information.
There is no ban on weapons acquisition in Azerbaijan. Rosoboronexport does not hide its success at the international weapon market. Even the C-300 supplies to Iran two years ago were not kept secret, though the U.S. could take the deal negatively. The participation in the tender for sale of the zenith installations to Turkey was not concealed as well.
C-300 and the upgraded variant C-400 is the most reliable system of protection against the air attack. The contract concluded with Iran three years ago has not been performed yet and the final obstacle to its implementation was imposing of new UN sanctions against Iran. Turkey can become a new buyer. The government is going to hold the tender for the zenith complexes supplies. The United States will be among Russia’s main rivals in struggle for the contract.
According to the Stockholm International Peace Institute (SIPRI), Russia takes the second place on the volume of the arms export. From 2005 to 2009 24% of the market fell to Russia and 30% to U.S During the past five years Russian arms export remained at the same level, while the volume of sales of its main rivals, first of all U.S., has grown (Turan).