NEW DELHI, Feb. 6 (UPI) -- The Russian military said Thursday it sold $4.78 billion in weapons and defense equipment to India, a top arms consumer, in 2013.
Vyacheslav Dzirkaln, deputy head of Russia's Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation, said from the sidelines of a defense expo in New Delhi arms sales to India last year were "very good," Russia's state news agency RIA Novosti reported.
Total Russian military exports in 2013 were valued at $15.7 billion. Russia sold $3 billion worth of weaponry to India in 2012.
The Kremlin said India has been one of its biggest clients in terms of military sales since 2007.
The Indian Ministry of Defense said 30 countries have weapons systems on display at the New Delhi defense exhibition, though Russia was considered one of the "major participants."
The Russian news agency said warplanes, gunships and aircraft carriers made up the bulk of military sales to India.
Indian Defense Minister Shri Antony said the government was committed to modernizing its weapons systems.
"We must [be] prepared to meet any challenge posed to our territorial integrity and sovereignty," he said in a statement Thursday.
