Putin boasts about rising Russian arms sales abroad

A file photo taken on May 9, 2013 shows a column of Russia's T-90 tanks rolling at the Red Square in Moscow, during Victory Day parade. President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday said Russia鈥檚 arms sales abroad last year have topped $15 billion. (AFP file photo)

MOSCOW: President Vladimir Putin says Russia鈥檚 arms sales abroad last year have topped $15 billion.
Putin, speaking Wednesday at a meeting with officials, said Russia last year also signed $9.5 billion in new arms-export contracts, which currently total $50 billion.
He said that Russia accounts for nearly a quarter of global arms sales, coming in second after the US
Putin said Moscow plans to expand its share of the global arms market, adding that a military campaign in Syria has demonstrated the 鈥渞emarkable reliability and efficiency鈥� of Russian weapons.
Russia has waged an air campaign in Syria since September 2015, helping Syrian President Bashar Assad鈥檚 military to win some key ground.