KYIV. Dec 22 (Interfax) - President Viktor Yushchenko on Tuesday described Ukraine as "one of the world leaders" in weapons exports and put the total value of contracts for exports of weapons and military-related services signed by Ukraine in 2009 at more than $1.5 billion.

"We have asserted ourselves as one of the world leaders in exports of armaments and military equipment. In this year alone, we have signed military technological cooperation contracts to a total of more than $1.5 billion," Yushchenko told a meeting at the Kyiv Institute of International Relations of Taras Shevchenko National University.

Unofficial expert estimates put this year's exports of armaments and military and related services at about $1.4 billion, which is 20% up on 2008.

Southeast Asian countries count for about 40% of Ukraine's military exports. At least 20% of those exports have gone to Russia.

The Research Center for the Armed Forces, Disarmament and Defense Conversion says last year's Ukrainian exports of weapons and military-related services totaled $1.2 billion, worth as much as those for 2007. Aircraft components, precision weapons and light armor made up the bulk of the exports.

State company Ukrspetsexport said in a report that its total revenues for 2008 were 1.61 billion hryvni, that's 4.67% higher than those for 2007. Its net revenues increased 12.2% to 240.24 million hryvni and its net profit rose by a factor of 7.3 to 40.04 million hryvni (there was 7.7 hryvni to the U.S. dollar at the official exchange rate as of April 28, the report's publication date).

The company has forecasts that 2009 exports will show a minimum increase of 10%.

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