Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on November 18, 2025
2 min readLast updated: January 20, 2026
Add as preferred source on GoogleRostec's defense exports have halved since 2022 due to prioritizing domestic orders amid the Ukraine conflict. The company expects export recovery soon.
DUBAI (Reuters) -Russian state conglomerate Rostec said on Tuesday that its defence exports fell by half since 2022 as domestic orders became a priority amid the fighting in Ukraine, but expects recovery soon.
Until 2022 Russia held second place in the world after the United States in defence exports, but the volumes dropped "due to the fact that we have had to supply most of our production to our army", Rostec Chief Sergey Chemezov told reporters.
Sanctions have complicated operations both in civil and defence sectors, but did not affect overall output, he said.
"I assure you that in the near future we will start to recover (with exports). We have expanded our capacities and increased production, so we will be able not only to meet the needs of our military but also supply our partners," Chemezov said, speaking on the sidelines of the Dubai Airshow.
The company's backlog of export orders exceeds $60 billion, Russian state agencies reported early in November, citing Rostec.
Rostec sees a huge demand from several countries for its new fifth-generation stealth fighter jet Sukhoi Su-57, he said, but did not provide details.
Rostec's subsidiary the United Aircraft Corporation continues to work on the MS-21 airliner, which is set to replace Airbus A320 and Boeing 737 in Russia and is expected to be ready for commercial use in 2026.
MS-21 is currently carrying out flight tests and a shorter 140-seat version is expected within two years, Chemezov said.
(Reporting by Federico Maccioni; Writing by Gleb Stolyarov; Editing by Joe Bavier/Guy Faulconbridge)
Defense export refers to the sale of military equipment and services from one country to another. It includes weapons, aircraft, and technology used for military purposes.
Military production involves the manufacturing of weapons, vehicles, and other equipment used by armed forces. It is often prioritized during conflicts to meet national defense needs.
Sanctions are penalties imposed by countries or international bodies to influence a nation's behavior. They can restrict trade, financial transactions, and access to resources.
A backlog of export orders refers to the accumulation of orders that have not yet been fulfilled. It indicates demand exceeding the current production capacity.
A stealth fighter jet is an aircraft designed to avoid detection by radar and other sensors. It features advanced technology to minimize its radar cross-section.
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