The Kommersant-Ukraine newspaper reported that Khartoum is a leading
client of Ukraine's defense industry. The newspaper said Ukraine has sold
T-55 and T-72 main battle tanks to Sudan.
"The portfolio of contracts signed by state-run arms exporter
Ukrspetsexport increased in value from $799.5 in 2009 to $956.7 billion [in
2010]," the Ukraine State Service for Export Control said.
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Quoting Ukrspetsexport, Kommersant-Ukraine said Kiev also exported other
heavy weapons to Sudan in 2010. The newspaper cited Grad multiple rocket
launchers, 122mm Gvozdika self-propelled howitzers, 152mm Akatsia
self-propelled howitzers, D-30 howitzers and 82mm mortars.
Khartoum has also bought 10,000 AK-47 Kalashnikov assault rifles, the
newspaper said on July 18. Sudan's neighbor, Libya, was also said to have
ordered air-to-air missiles from Ukraine.
Ukrspetsexport was believed to have served as a front for Russia's
defense industry. Analysts said Kiev's export figures appeared suspect.
"As far as I know, we only signed an option for a previous contract with
Sudan last year and the rest is ongoing deliveries under contracts signed
by the previous team," former Ukrspetsexport director Sergei Bondarchuk told
Kommersant.