JSC Rosoboronexport is the sole state intermediary agency for Russia's exports/imports of defense-related and dual use products, technologies and services. The Rosoboronexport Federal State Unitary Enterprise was set up in 2000 by a Decree of the President of Russia and is charged with implementation of the policy of the State in the area of military-technical cooperation between Russia and foreign countries. In 2007, the enterprise was re-registered as Rosoboronexport Open joint-stock company. In 2011, Rostekhnologiinon-profit state corporation acquired 100% of Rosoboronexport OJSC. The official status of Rosoboronexport guarantees the support of the Russian Government in all export operations. The Rosoboronexport State Corporation is exclusively entitled to supply the international market the whole range of Russian armaments officially allowed for export. Rosoboronexport is ranked among the leading operators in the international arms market. The status of a state intermediary agency provides the corporation with unique opportunities in expanding and strengthening long-term mutually beneficial cooperation with foreign partners. Rosoboronexport presently cooperates with Selex ES of Italy, Navantia of Spain, Thales Optronics of France, and others. India is a major client, other leading clients include China, Algeria, Syria, Vietnam, Venezuela and recently Iraq.
History
Rosoboronexport is a legal successor of the state arms exporters which existed in the ex-USSR and present-day Russia. A state intermediary agency in the military-technical area was first created on May 8, 1953, when the General Engineering Department within the Ministry of Internal and Foreign Trade of the USSR was founded in accordance with the decision of the Soviet Government. With the scope of military industrial complex expanding, a number of new specialized export agencies were set up. By the late 1990s, there were two state intermediary companies in the country, Rosvooruzhenie and Promexport. On November 4, 2000, the two state-owned companies were merged by Decree №1834 of the Russian President, establishing the Rosoboronexport Unitary enterprise as the sole state intermediary agency for Russia's military exports/imports. On August 4, 2006, the Bush administration imposed sanctions on Rosoboronexport accusing it of supplying Iran in violation of the United StatesIran Nonproliferation Act of 2000. The Russian defense ministry said the move reflected U.S. annoyance at arms sales to Venezuela. Rosoboronexport was prohibited from doing business with the Federal government of the United States from 2008 until 2010, when the U.S. lifted such sanctions in response to Russian support for a UN resolution concerning Iran's nuclear program. On January 19, 2007, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree making Rosoboronexport responsible for all arms exports. It was reported that Rosoboronexport was to be folded into a state holding company called Rostec by the end of the year 2007. On September 18, 2008 it was reported that Rosoboronexport had agreed to go ahead with the sale of advanced S-300 Russian made anti-aircraft systems to Iran in light of the news that the United States had agreed to supply Israel with GBU-39s The 2011 volume of military supplies to foreign customers made by Rosoboronexport was US$10.7 billion considering the expected US$9.19 billion. A continuous increase in sales makes Russia the second largest exporter of military products after the USA. In 2012, the export revenues from Russian-made weapons was US$15.2 billion, and the order portfolio for Russian military products reached US$46.3 billion. In 2012, Rosoboronexport was widely reported to be Syria’s main weapons supplier, but Russia maintains that its arms deals with the Syrian government are based on longstanding contracts between the two countries. Russia holds that the weapons sold to Syria are purely defensive in nature, cannot be used against civilians, and are primarily air defense installations. The refurbishment of Russian-made helicopters, and the delivery of S-300 anti-aircraft missiles caused great international attention. The US, Germany and Israel were all opposed to weapons transfers to Syria. In July 2013, Rosoboronexport recorded $34 billion in orders for 66 countries. In 2017, Angola's first satellite :pt:Angosat 1|Angosat 1 will be launched. Rosoboronexport served as the leader of the project team. The contract which began in 2009 was worth an estimated US$328 million.
Management
The founding director of Rosvooruzhenie, appointed in 1993, was Viktor I. Samoilov. He was followed by Aleksandr Kotelkin. Sergey Chemezov was the Director General of Rosoboronexport during 2004–2007, Anatoly Isaikin came after.
