KIEV, March 1 – The output of Ukrainian defense plants grew by 58% in 2009, which would unable Ukraine to rank as the world's sixth largest arms trader, the Industrial Policy Ministry's Defense Sector Agency said.

The largest growth was reported by aircraft builders (77%), shipbuilders (71%) and producers of armaments and military hardware (16%).

Ukraine signed a record number of large contracts last year, representatives of the Army, Conversion and Disarmament Studies Center said in an interview published by the Saturday issue of the Dzerkalo Tyzhnia (Mirror Weekly) newspaper.