Ukraine signs arms memorandum with Pakistan for $600 million
On Wednesday, November 23, Ukraine signed an arms memorandum for $600 million with Pakistan, according to the Ukrainian Defense Ministry’s press service.
The Memorandum of Cooperation was signed by Pavlo Bukin, the Director General of the state company "Ukrspecexport" and the Chairman of the Heavy Industries Taxila Pakistani Corporation, Syed Wajid Hussain. The arrangements concern the maintenance and modernization of tanks. In the 1990s, Ukraine sold three hundred and twenty T-80UD tanks to Pakistan. Pakistan was also interested in Ukrainian Oplot tanks.
During Ukrainian Defense Minister Stepan Poltorak’s visit to Pakistan, prospects of a possible joint production venture for tanks and anti-tank systems were discussed.
In 2011, Ukraine signed a contract worth $200 million for the supply of 49 Oplot tanks to Thailand. About half of the tanks have already been delivered.
In 2009, Ukraine signed a contract for the modernization of one hundred and five AN-32 military aircraft for India. By the end of 2015, Ukraine had repaired 40 planes; the rest will be modernized in an Indian factory in Kanpur.