Article Posted on : - Dec 28, 2011

Caption: A file photo of T-90 Main Battle Tank

MOSCOW (BNS): The largest importer of Russian arms for ground forces in 2011 is Venezuela, according to the Moscow based Center for Analysis of World Arms Trade (CAWAT).

Russian news agency Ria Novosti quoting CAWAT head Igor Korotchenko said, Russia delivered a large consignment of arms to Venezuela under contracts signed in 2009 and 2010. However, he did not mention any figures.

The report said, Venezuela bought an unspecified number of T-72B1 tanks, BMP-3M infantry fighting vehicles, BTR-80A armoured personnel carriers, Msta-S 152-mm self-propelled howitzers, Nona-SVK 120-mm self-propelled mortars, Grad multiple rocket launchers, and an assortment of other weaponry, last year.

Besides Venezuela, other countries like India, Kazakhstan, the United Arab Emirates, Azerbaijan, Uganda, Bangladesh, China, Uruguay, and Turkmenistan have bought T-90S tanks from Russia.

The CAWAT has also ranked Russia as the world's second largest arms exporter in 2011 after the United States. Russia exports arms and military equipment to over 100 countries.