MOSCOW - Russia would export arms worth some $9 billion in 2011, a leading Russian arms exporter said Wednesday.

Increased instability in North Africa and some other regions had generated interest in Russia-made weaponry, especially anti-aircraft systems, said Anatoli Isaikin, CEO of Russian Arms Export Corporation Rosoboronexport.

Russia also continued to supply Syria with arms despite the current complicated situation there, Isaikin told local media when he appeared at the 10th MAKS international air show near Moscow.

Rosoboronexport held orders worth over $36 billion and had delivered arms worth $6 billion in the first half of 2011, he said.

Isaikin admitted that Russian arms producers had suffered a setback in a 10-billion-dollar bid to sell 126 MIG-35 fighters to India this year. But he said the warplanes would find new buyers.

Russia sold $8.5 billion worth of arms and equipment last year.