Belarus in 2009, exported weapons less than 500 thousand dollars and in the world ranking of arms traffickers in 2008-2009, moved from 12th to 42th place. Such data are presented in a report prepared by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).
According to the report, the leader of the rating are the United States, which arms exports in 2009 amounted to 6,79 billion dollars, second place — Russia, which sold weapons to 4,46 billion dollars. Among neighboring countries important places in the ranking arms exporters in the last year are occupied by the Ukraine (214 million USD — 14th place) and Poland (93 million — 19th place), reported the Belarusian service of Radio Liberty.
Alesin: SIPRI data for Belarus are very far from reality.
Belarusian military expert Alexander Alesin believes that SIPRI data on Belarus, «not that far, but very far from reality.» According to the observer, SIPRI uses outdated methods in data compiling.
«This technique does not take into account today’s realities — the development of military electronics and software. Now Belarus is increasingly turning from an exporter of the old Soviet arms to supplier of premium (sometimes dual) electronic and software products», — told the expert.
According to the observer, this mainly relates to systems, electronic warfare, electronic intelligence, automated control systems for weapons and troops. «This is air-defense, automated air management and secure means for communication. Analysis of such technologies is not provided by the SIPRI methods: they are aware of firearms, guns, tanks and armored vehicles. All that Belarus doesn’t supply already», — said Alexander Alesin.
As previously reported by Telegraph, according to official figures, the Belarusian arms exports between 1999 and 2006 amounted to about one billion dollars, making Belarus the 11th largest exporter of weapons in the world.
