Photo from UNIAN
President Petro Poroshenko emphasized the necessity of increasing the volume of exports of Ukrainian weapons and developing the program of upgrading defense enterprises, according to the presidential press service.
"We must back up the increasing demand for Ukrainian weapons. I emphasize that we don't do a sell-out, unlike some ex-ministers of defense. Now we are firmly conquering the market with Ukrainian-made types of weapons," the Head of State said at the meeting of the National Security and Defense Council.
Read alsoUkrainian MBTs for ThailandAt the same time, the president reminded that the national defense products were manufactured at production facilities with a 67% deterioration level, which at some enterprises reaches 80%. "I instruct to elaborate a program of an upgrade of production assets. Without modern production facilities we will not be able to compete effectively in the global market and ensure modernization and development of new weapon systems through external orders," Petro Poroshenko stressed.
The president emphasized: "Only due to the exports contracts, the most advanced Ukrainian developments do not remain back-shelved but bring 2% of the Ukraine's total export [revenues]. The task is to increase this indicator as a source of foreign exchange earnings."
According to him, export allows to scale production, invest in new technologies and tools, train personnel, and provide the necessary weaponry to the troops.