Public joint-stock company Sumy Machine-Building Science and Production Association (Sumy NPO) has joined the imports replacement program in defense industry.

The company's press service reported that Sumy NPO will take part in industrial cooperation in the area of armored vehicle and tank building.

"A new contract for a test batch of products for Malyshev Plant has been signed," the press service said.

Sumy NPO Director General Oleksiy Tsymbal, the quick and good implementation of the contract could open good opportunities for cooperation in the interests of defense industry to the enterprise.

"Of course, we are ready to make other orders," he said.

According to the report, the potential of Sumy NPO's participation in the imports replacement program in defense industry was discussed during the negotiations held late July between the company’s managers, top managers of Ukroboronprom and Sumy Regional Administration. Plans to connect the industrial complex of Sumy region to the imports replacement program are outlined in a memorandum of cooperation signed by Ukroboronprom and Sumy Regional Administration in July.

Sumy Machine-Building Science and Production Association is one of the biggest producers in Europe of gas re-pumping units and outfitted compressor stations for various uses: centrifugal, vacuum, and chemical pumps, and centrifuges and other equipment for the chemicals gas and oil-refining industries.

According to Ukroboronprom, since 2015, the concern has signed memos of cooperation with 15 regional administrations and Kyiv city. The concern provided for organization of production to replace over 1,000 items for defense industry earlier bought in Russia.

According to the concern, in 2014-2016 the Ukrainian defense and industrial sector replaced around 35% of spare parts earlier bought in Russia.