JSC Rosoboronexport (Russian: OAO Рособоронэкспорт) is the sole state intermediary agency for Russia's exports/imports of defense-related and dual use products, technologies and services. The corporation was set up by a Decree of the President of Russian Federation and is charged with implementation of the policy of the State in the area of military-technical cooperation between Russia and foreign countries.
The official status of Rosoboronexport guarantees the support of the Russian Government in all export operations. The Rosoboronexport State Corporation is exclusively entitled to supply the international market the whole range of Russian armaments officially allowed for export.
Rosoboronexport is ranked among the leading operators in the international arms market. The status of a state intermediary agency provides the corporation with unique opportunities in expanding and strengthening long-term mutually beneficial cooperation with foreign partners.
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Rosoboronexport:
Basic Trade Activities
Rosoboronexport is a legal successor of the state arms exporters existed in the ex-USSR and present-day Russia. A state intermediary agency in the military-technical area was first created on May 8, 1953, when the General Engineering Department within the Ministry of Internal and Foreign Trade of the USSR was founded in accordance with the decision of the Soviet Government.
With the scope of military industrial complex expanding, a number of new specialized export agencies were set up. By late 1990s, there were two state intermediary companies in the country, the Rosvooruzhenie and Promexport.
On November 4, 2000, the Rosoboronexport Unitary enterprise was set up by Decree № 1834 of the Russian President as the sole state intermediary agency for Russia's military exports/imports.
On August 4, 2006, the Bush administration imposed sanctions on Rosoboronexport accusing it of supplying Iran in violation of the United States Iran Nonproliferation Act of 2000. The Russian defense ministry said the move reflected U.S. annoyance at arms sales to Venezuela. Rosoboronexport is now prohibited from doing business with the United States Federal Government.[1]
On January 19, 2007, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree making Rosoboronexport responsible for all arms exports.[2]
It was reported that Rosoboronexport was to be folded into a state holding company called Russian Technology by the end of the year 2007.[3][4]
On September 18, 2008 it was reported that Rosoboronexport had agreed to go ahead with the sale of advanced S-300 Russian made anti-aircraft systems to Iran in light of the news that the United States had agreed to supply Israel with GBU-39s (Small Diameter Bunker Buster Bombs)[5][6][7]
The founding director of Rosvooruzhenie, appointed in 1993, was Viktor I. Samoilov. He was followed by Aleksandr Kotelkin. Sergey Chemezov was the Director General of Rosoboronexport during 2004-2007.