Dmitry Salamatin: Ukraine to Double Defense Spendings in 2012

25.11.2011 In 2012, Ukraine plans to double state defense order comparing to 2011, reports UNIAN citing Director General of Ukroboronprom Dmitry Salamatin. As for him, state defense order in 2011 is UAH 936 mln while in the next year it will be almost UAH 2 bln.

"It should be noted that state defense order was formed in economic crisis and budget deficit. However, it has significantly grown despite hardest problems. Financing of aircraft manufacturing, building of corvettes, production of precision weapons, repairs of armor and wheeled vehicles will appreciably increase", Salamatin said.

He emphasized that "Ukroboronprom is oriented at modernization of defense companies and production of the most advanced armaments. This will launch technical renovation of Ukrainian army in accordance with the world's top standards", reports UNIAN.

On the other hand, growth of defense order is insufficient to workload military-oriented companies in full, Salamatin said.

"In 2011 we signed important international contracts giving us additional orders. For instance, the Malyshev Plant's production volume planned for 2012 is ten times as high as it was in 2011", said Salamatin.

He stressed that Ukroboronprom was the company responsible for reformation of Ukrainian defense industrial system.

As for him, "the law on control over state property in defense industry gives us the tools we need. And we will make a fierce effort to strengthen Ukraine's positions in the world's top ten arms exporters", reports UNIAN.

Salamatin said that "along with presidential administration and defense ministry, we're putting things right in cooperation with foreign countries. Those issues have not been touched for years. It has been decided that every commission on arms export will be headed by a deputy defense minister assisted by a deputy director general of Ukroboronprom".