Rosoboronexport JSC Rosoboronexport ( ) is the sole state intermediary agency for Russia ' s exports / imports of defense - related and dual use products , technologies and services . The corporation was set up by a Decree of the President of Russia and is charged with implementation of the policy of the State in the area of military - technical cooperation between Russia and foreign countries . The official status of Rosoboronexport guarantees the support of the Russian Government in all export operations . The Rosoboronexport State Corporation is exclusively entitled to supply the international market the whole range of Russian armaments officially allowed for export . Rosoboronexport is ranked among the leading operators in the international arms market . The status of a state intermediary agency provides the corporation with unique opportunities in expanding and strengthening long - term mutually beneficial cooperation with foreign partners . Rosoboronexport presently cooperates with Selex ES of Italy , Navantia of Spain , Thales Optronics of France , and others . Facts and figures . Rosoboronexport : Basic Trade Activities History . Rosoboronexport is a legal successor of the state arms exporters existed in the ex - USSR and present - day Russia . A state intermediary agency in the military - technical area was first created on May 8 , 1953 , when the General Engineering Department within the Ministry of Internal and Foreign Trade of the USSR was founded in accordance with the decision of the Soviet Government . With the scope of military industrial complex expanding , a number of new specialized export agencies were set up . By late 1990s , there were two state intermediary companies in the country , the Rosvooruzhenie and Promexport . On November 4 , 2000 , the Rosoboronexport Unitary enterprise was set up by Decree №1834 of the Russian President , Vladimir Putin , as the sole state intermediary agency for Russia ' s military exports / imports . On August 4 , 2006 , the Bush administration imposed sanctions on Rosoboronexport accusing it of supplying Iran in violation of the United States Iran Nonproliferation Act of 2000 . The Russian defense ministry said the move reflected U . S . annoyance at arms sales to Venezuela . Rosoboronexport was prohibited from doing business with the United States Federal Government from 2008 until 2010 , when the U . S . lifted such sanctions in response to Russian support for a UN resolution concerning Iran ' s nuclear program . On January 19 , 2007 , Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree making Rosoboronexport responsible for all arms exports . It was reported that Rosoboronexport was to be folded into a state holding company called Russian Technology by the end of the year 2007 . On September 18 , 2008 it was reported that Rosoboronexport had agreed to go ahead with the sale of advanced S - 300 Russian made anti - aircraft systems to Iran in light of the news that the United States had agreed to supply Israel with GBU - 39 s ( Small Diameter Bunker Buster Bombs ) In 2012 , Rosoboronexport was widely reported to be Syria ’ s main weapons supplier , but Russia maintains that its arms deals with the Syrian government are based on longstanding contracts between the two countries . Russia holds that the weapons sold to Syria are purely defensive in nature , cannot be used against civilians , and are primarily air defense installations . The refurbishment of Russian - made helicopters , and the delivery of S - 300 anti - aircraft missiles caused great international attention . The US , Germany and Israel were all opposed to weapons transfers to Syria . In July 2013 , Rosoboronexport recorded $ 34 billion in orders for 66 countries . In 2014 , Angola ' s first satellite " AngoSat " will be launched . Rosoboronexport served as the leader of the project team . The contract which began in 2009 was worth an estimated $ 328 million US Dollars . Management . The founding director of Rosvooruzhenie , appointed in 1993 , was Viktor I . Samoilov . He was followed by Aleksandr Kotelkin . Sergey Chemezov was the Director General of Rosoboronexport during 2004 - 2007 , Anatoli Issaïkine came after .