Russian President Vladimir Putin says that his country is dealing with growing and aggressive resistance from other countries in the arms trade.

"Of course, we have to work in a complex situation,” said Putin at a meeting of the Commission for Military and Technical Cooperation with Foreign Countries on Monday.

Domestic manufacturers should increase military and technical cooperation with Russia’s allies and strategic partners, he noted.

“We’re confronted ever more frequently with the attempt of direct counteraction and sometimes these attempts go beyond the framework of competitive struggle and are of an openly aggressive nature. And perhaps political instruments are also used as camouflaged means of competitive struggle,” he said.

The president said that his country holds a “solid second place” among leading global arms and military equipment producers after the United States, adding that in 2014 Russian arms exports amounted to $15.5 billion and have been on the same level during the past three years.

“Russia undoubtedly needs to move forward, use higher standards, develop a new generation of armaments and military hardware, and prepare a worthy replacement for high-class specialists and strengthen its positions on global markets," said Putin.

Last year, Russian signed $14 billion worth of new contracts, and its arms industry export order portfolio stands at over $50 billion.

SRK/MHB/AS