Procurement: February 15, 2002

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Russia earned $4.4 billion for arms exports in 2001, compared to $3.68 billion for 2000. They had set a goal for 2001 of $4.2 billion but would not have met this except for last-minute (and unexpected) arms sales to the Afghan Northern Alliance (many of them paid for by the US). About $400 million of the sales were in exchanged for Russian debts rather than cash. Aircraft amounted to 60% of the total sales. (Forty Sukhoi fighters sold to China amounted to $1.1 billion.)--Stephen V Cole