Russia's arms exporter Rosoboronexport must retain its monopoly status, Sergei Chemezov, head of the Russian Technologies (Rostekhnologii) state-run corporation, said on Friday.
Russia's United Shipbuilding Corporation (USC) has moved to obtain permission to export its products independently.
According to the Kommersant business daily, the company's development concept challenges Rosobonexport's monopoly, which could lose up to 25% of export contracts if the plan is approved by the government.
"I believe that this would be harmful. We have seen this before in the 1990s, when each manufacturer had a right to independently market his products," he said.
"As a result, a company director was ready to sell [his products] at any price just to secure an order and close the gaps."
It is critical to maintain the market and sell "at the highest possible prices."
Rosoboronexport has said the USC plan would hurt Russia's national interests.
A similar attempt by United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) failed several years ago.
MOSCOW, November 19 (RIA Novosti)
