The article examines the main stages of the development of mechanisms for cooperation between Russia and African countries in the military-technical sphere, including economic and financial issues. The article concludes that it is necessary to establish long-term cooperation between Russia and foreign partners, which, in addition to exporting combat vehicles, includes training local specialists, the supply of spare parts and consumables, and the organization of major repairs and modernization of equipment. Based on the analysis of the crisis phenomena in the Angolan economy that took place in the 1990s and included the problem of foreign debts and the application of international sanctions, the author reveals the main directions of Russia's foreign trade policy, which allowed it to organize arms exports to Angola and take a certain share of its market. Analyzing the application of measures of state regulation of the Algerian economy since 2000, the author points to economic stabilization and an increase in foreign exchange earnings, which allowed this country to increase purchases of aircraft, air defense systems and tanks in Russia. The author comes to the conclusion that it is necessary to take into account the experience of using weapons in real combat conditions of a special military operation in order to eliminate their technical shortcomings and increase their attractiveness among African consumers. The article solves the problem of the penetration of Russian exporters of armaments and military equipment into the markets of African countries. The article addresses researchers interested in expanding Russian machine–building exports and improving the structure of domestic foreign trade.