# Africa’s orders for Russian weapons reach USD 14 billion

- Link: https://www.military.africa/2019/10/africas-order-for-russian-weapons-reach-usd-14-billion/
- Published: 2019-10-29T22:02:55+01:00
- Author: Ekene Lionel

As various African countries battles different forms of insecurity crises, the continent
has become a hotbed for major weapons developing countries.

Russia, one of the world’s leading country with an enviable military industrial 
complex – since the Soviet era, has indicated its interest in participating in Africa’s
Socio-economic arena.

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The European country has disclosed that it has sold defence equipment worth USD 
14 billion to Africa.

**_Since penetrating the African defence market, ‘Africa’s orders for Russian systems
amount to up to 30-40% of Russia’s defence exports_**…’

While “Sub-Saharan states” bought defence equipment worth USD 2 billion.

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Presently, [China is leading the pack](https://www.military.africa/2019/10/africas-order-for-russian-weapons-reach-usd-14-billion/military.africa/2019/05/an-overview-of-chinas-arms-exports-to-africa)
as the most favorite weapons developing country in Africa.

Hence, Russia would need to jostle with China for the African market. For that reason,
the Director of Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation (FSVTS) Dmitry
Shugayev said during the recently held **Russia-Africa summit and economic forum**
held in Sochi on 23-24 October, that;

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>  Sub-Saharan African countries are interested in [Russian] fixed- and rotary-wing
> aircraft, Pantsir-S1 and Tor-M2E air defence systems, armoured vehicles, anti-
> tank guided weapons, and small arms.
> Dmitry Shugayev

## Russia in Africa

Asides the sales of military equipment, Russia focused on the maintenance and modernisation
of the weapon systems delivered to African countries.

As a result of recent terror activities, about 160 Russian military advisors were
[deployed](https://www.military.africa/2019/10/africas-order-for-russian-weapons-reach-usd-14-billion/military.africa/2019/09/mozambique-receives-mi-17-helicopter-and-other-russian-hardware)
to Mozambique since the end of August, especially in Cabo Delgado.

Furthermore, a recently released [report](https://www.military.africa/2019/10/africas-order-for-russian-weapons-reach-usd-14-billion/military.africa/2019/09/libya-russians-are-repairing-lnas-heavy-weapons)
reveals that Russian technicians are providing the [Libyan National Army (LNA) led by Khalifa Haftar](https://www.military.africa/2019/10/africas-order-for-russian-weapons-reach-usd-14-billion/military.africa/2019/04/libya-rebels-and-haftar)
with technical assistance on weapons repair and upgrade.

Nigeria is [interested](https://www.military.africa/2019/10/africas-order-for-russian-weapons-reach-usd-14-billion/military.africa/2019/10/counter-insurgency-nigeria-and-russia-to-sign-military-cooperation)
in purchasing Russian helicopters, planes, tanks and other military equipment.

Comparably, over the years, China has gained a foothold in Africa, since 2008, [countries in Africa collectively purchased](https://www.military.africa/2019/10/africas-order-for-russian-weapons-reach-usd-14-billion/military.africa/2019/05/an-overview-of-chinas-arms-exports-to-africa)
around 21 per cent ($3 billion since 2008) of China’s overall arms exports. And 
both Chinese and African officials [promised to increase that figure.](https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy-defence/article/2154189/everything-you-need-know-about-weapons-china-sells)

However, African countries are gradually building there own military industrial 
complex, countries like Egypt, Algeria, South Africa and Nigeria are on the forefront
of weapons development in Africa.

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