Turkmenistan: Ministry of Defense Buys Russian Tanks

Turkmenistan is purchasing a "small batch" of Russian tanks at a cost of $30 million. The order for the unspecified number of T-90S main battle tanks was announced by Igor Sevastyanov, the deputy director general of Rosoboronexport, the federal arms export agency, on July 8.

Sevastyanov described the Turkmen Ministry of Defense's procurement plans as "real and serious" and hinted larger orders may yet be negotiated, the Russian news agency Interfax reported. Military reform is a top priority for the Turkmen government, the state news agency reported on July 7. This involves the "modernization of the national army [and] increasing its defensive power with modern military equipment and weapons," the report said.

T-90S tanks are built by Uralvagonzavod, located in the Siberian city of Nizhny Tagil. Delivery of the tanks to the Turkmen government is scheduled for August, Sevastyanov said.