The contracts on defense items worth 61,1 million manat have been signed for six months of 2010, Minister of Defence Industry Yaver Jamalov said at a meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers with the participation of the President on the results of six months of this year.
He said that after ensuring the production, it is planned to sign additional contracts before the end of the year amounting to 42 million manat.
"Defense items for 2010 will be made to the amount of 103 million manat. It should be noted that the contracts were signed 120 times more in 2010 than in 2006, 9.6 times more than in 2007, and six times more than in 2008. The work on measures envisaged in the state programs on defense in 2010 was continued at the enterprises for the current year.
According to the program, about 108 items on 98 directions are planned to be produced this year. At the same time, the tactical and technical problems on various directions are solved. Preparatory work for testing of small arms and artillery weapons, ammunition, optical devices is held, " Jamalov said, AzerTaj state news agency reported.
At the moment, the work is conducted to execute the signed contracts.
Various types of mortars, grenade launchers, sniper rifles, scopes, collimators, mines, bombs and various types of simulators for small arms, the tracks for tanks and armored personnel carriers, various types of ammunition, hand bombs, etc. will be produced in 2010.
The operations to execute state orders for defense enterprises subordinate to ministries such as the scientific enterprise "Senayejihaz", plant "Telemechanics" and "Araz" launched in 2009 were continued during the reporting period to establish spheres of production of defense items.
Operations to prepare design estimates are under way. New projects are financed.
This year the construction and reconstruction of ten sites is underway. Eight of them will be commissioned before the end of the year.
As a result of marketing operations, operations to sign a contract on purchase of 535 units of machinery and equipment have been completed. Purchase and delivery of equipment on schedule have been launched.
According to the order of the security forces, about 5,200 units of firearms, armor and other defense equipment will be repaired, 321,000 units of different types of property utilized in the facilities of the Ministry of Defence Industry within the program of defense procurement.
Jamalov said that goods produced at plants are demonstrated at international exhibitions of the defense industry. Last year 27 goods were presented at an exhibition in Istanbul. About 55 items were presented at an exhibition in Oman in March this year.
"It is planned to participate at international exhibitions in Poland and South Africa before the end of the year. I would like to note that according to your instructions, we set a goal to participate in all exhibitions in the field of defense industry. Moreover, we demonstrate the military might of the Azerbaijani Republic and the existence of a strong defense industry. Mr. President, we have represented Azerbaijan at international exhibitions of the defense industry due to your attention, " Jamalov said.
"Today the ministry of defense industry cooperates with 60 world countries. As a result of these events, serial production of defense items meeting modern standards is implemented in a short period at the enterprises of the Ministry of Defence Industry. New areas of production have been created. The number of defense items reached 413 due to the installed technology and equipment.
The volume of production, in general, increased in 2009 by 2.8 times compared to 2006, production of defense items - by 46 times. We can say with confidence that a complex of defense industry created for a short period of time contributes to the Armed Forces with ammunition, military equipment and other facilities. Moreover, independent Azerbaijan is able to export these products to foreign markets.
Today, as in developed world countries, besides production of defense items, the production base created in the enterprises of the Ministry allows producing various civil goods for the national economy ", Jamalov said.