Russian Arms Sales and Defense Industries: Facing New Challenges

This article examines some of the many challenges facing Russia's defense industrial sector as it tries to compete abroad under new circumstances and focuses to a considerable degree on its ties to Asian countries, mainly China. It also seeks to prove that Russia exports weapons mainly for reasons of gaining foreign policy standing and influence and for securing rents for elite corruption. But it also examines some domestic and other foreign issues as well. Those issues pertain to the quality of Russian exports, the fact that competition is rising in this sector, and among other things the rising dependence of Russia on China for political and economic support. Russia's growing inclination to China may also cost it markets in other places like Vietnam.