Russia expects to boost arms sales by 12%...

"We calculate arms sales of $9.5 billion," head of the agency Mikhail Dmitriyev said.

Russian arms sales were worth over $8.5 billion last year, including $7.4 billion via state arms exporter Rosobornexport, whose sales increased 10% y-o-y.

Sergei Svechnikov, head of the Rosoboronexport department of analysis and long-term planning, earlier told RIA Novosti that despite constantly expanding arms exports, Russia faced increasing competition on the international arms market from the United States, Germany and China.

Russia"s main arms customers are India, Algeria, China, Venezuela, Malaysia and Syria. Vietnam also emerged as a key importer after it signed a deal to buy submarines, aircraft and other military hardware from Russia late last year.

MOSCOW, April 21 (RIA Novosti)