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President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Good afternoon, colleagues,

Today we will sum up the results of military technical cooperation in 2024, discuss the situation currently unfolding in this strategically crucial area, and identify the issues that need to be adjusted and those that might require new solutions, including in view of the Strategy of Military Technical Cooperation of Russia with Foreign States to 2030, which was endorsed last December.

I feel it important to emphasise that last year, Russia, our enterprises, fulfilled their export commitments in general. In some instances, mutually satisfactory decisions were made together with our foreign partners, while forms and ways of interaction were flexibly and promptly adjusted.

The defence industry keeps producing practically the entire range of military goods at maximum capacity. The key priority remains the same, which is to meet all the needs of the units and detachments engaged in the special military operation.

At the same time, Russia remains among the top five leaders of the global arms market and retains its leading export positions in many areas. This is another testimony to the high quality, reliability and effectiveness of the defence items we produce.

Obviously, they are enjoying growing popularity, and we see why. Practically the entire range of Russian weaponry – from target acquisition and engagement systems to air defence systems, aircraft, unmanned systems and armoured vehicles – displays its effectiveness, undergoing rigorous testing not only on testing grounds or during drills but, crucially, “on the ground,” on the frontline, in real combat.

It is natural that our experience of conducting a special military operation – both in terms of changing tactics and technical upgrading of the military hardware – is being meticulously studied by political leaders, army commanders and military-industrial complex experts of foreign countries.

I should add that most samples of weapons and military equipment are being promptly improved and upgraded thanks to the close alignment and joint work of combat units and teams of enterprises and design bureaus. This greatly enhances their performance parameters in terms of range, precision and fire damage, protection and other parameters.

The development of military technical cooperation should also be regarded as a crucial instrument for the technological renewal of Russia’s army and navy. Concurrently, we should of course consolidate our positions on global markets. The current order portfolio for Russian military equipment is considerable – amounting to tens of billions of dollars – and we must actively augment the volume of export deliveries.

In addition to traditional models of armaments, special attention should be directed towards advanced systems that are requisite for our Armed Forces and hold export potential. These include robotic aerial, ground, maritime, and submersible systems; laser complexes; and troop command systems employing artificial intelligence technology. Such equipment signifies the future of the global arms market, where fierce competition is already unfolding – and will further intensify – and for which we must be fully prepared.

I am confident that we possess significant growth potential across all areas of military and technical cooperation. Previously adopted economic, financial, organisational, and other decisions have demonstrated their efficacy. However, we cannot rest on our laurels, and thus an additional package of state support measures is required to continue developing this potential.

I instruct the Government to analyse this matter, naturally in coordination with the ongoing modernisation of the defence industry.

I have repeatedly stated: we must meticulously plan the work of the defence industry over the long term to balance the fulfilment of state defence order tasks and contracts under military technical cooperation, establish groundwork for civilian output, master dual-purpose technologies, and thereby ensure maximum and efficient utilisation of defence enterprises and their subcontractors.

Another essential point is that in order to advance our armaments exports in a highly competitive environment, we need to improve cooperation with foreign partners, taking into account the nuances of the arms market. This entails offering them not only specific weapons and equipment but also a broader range of services – from technological cooperation and joint development of advanced systems to assistance in their repair and modernisation, supply of spare parts, and training of foreign experts.

Let us get down to work.

The floor is given to Director of the Federal Service for Military Technical Cooperation Dmitry Shugayev. Please proceed.

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