BUENOS AIRES, December 7 (RIA Novosti) - Russia has exported weapons and military hardware to Latin American countries worth over $1 billion during 2006, Russia's state weapons export monopoly said Thursday.

"This region [Latin America] has become one of Rosoboronexport's major clients," said Sergei Ladygin, the head of the monopoly's regional department.

Earlier Thursday Russia's president said that from sales of weapons and military hardware to countries around the world in 2006, Russia may receive a total of $6 billion.

Russia's military hardware "enjoys high demand in the world. This year we will reach a level of $6 billion," Vladimir Putin told a meeting of the commission for military and technical cooperation.

Latin America has become a key market for Russian arms exports.

Russia will deliver the first two Su-30MK2 Flanker multi-role fighters to Venezuela by the end of 2006 under a $1-bln contract on supplies of 24 fighters and 30 helicopters signed in July, prior to Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez' visit to Russia. The country has stepped up military imports from Russia since the United States imposed a ban on arms sales to the South American nation.

Russian-made fighters will substitute American F-16 and French Mirage fighters currently deployed by the Venezuelan Air Force.

The Rosoboronexport official said Russia plans to deliver one Su-30MK2 and five Su-27SMT Flanker air-superiority fighters to Mexico, which will be purchased by the Central American country's Naval Ministry, and will be used to protect oil deposits in the Gulf of Mexico.

He added that other countries in the region had also expressed an interest in Russian military hardware.

"Brazil has a serious interest, and is currently considering buying planes and helicopters from Russia," Ladygin said. "I am sure that our [Russian] helicopters will appear next year in Chile, and Argentina is considering buying Russian radar systems."

He said the arms export monopoly was continuing its work on possible supplies of helicopters to Ecuador, and of helicopters and armored personnel carriers to Colombia.