On November 17, 2025, the Dubai Airshow 2025 International Aviation and Space Exhibition began its work in the United Arab Emirates. Russia is represented by a record number of full-scale samples, and Russian aircraft will perform demonstration flights. TASS — about the event
In 2025, the Dubai Aviation Biennale is being held for the 19th time and will be held from November 17th to 21st. The Russian exposition is traditionally organized by Rosoboronexport, a company owned by Rostec State Corporation. Russia has been participating in the event since 1993. This year, the special exporter brought the largest number of full-scale samples in the history of participation in exhibitions abroad. Dmitry Shugaev, head of the Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation (FSMTC) of Russia, told TASS that over 850 exhibits were being prepared for participation in the Dubai Airshow 2025, of which 100 were as samples. If the united Russian exposition occupied 750 square meters at Dubai Airshow 2023, then this year the area of the national pavilion is already 1 thousand square meters. m. Shugaev recalled that the Russian Federation is a permanent participant in this exhibition. This allows us to promote the products of domestic gunsmiths, strengthen the country's position as a reliable partner in the field of military-technical cooperation, and develop contacts with traditional and new partners.
"The Middle East is one of the key regions for Russian arms exports,— Rostec CEO Sergey Chemezov told TASS. — It accounts for almost half of all orders from our Rosoboronexport. Arab countries are well aware of and respect our military products, primarily air defense systems, various armored vehicles, and anti-tank systems." The head of the state corporation expressed confidence that Russian aircraft also has good prospects in the Middle East market.
Sergey Chemezov, CEO of Rostec State Corporation
Presented "in hardware"
Russian aviation equipment, unmanned aerial vehicles, and mock-ups of aviation ammunition are located on the open site of the Dubai Air Show. The largest example of Russian production was the upgraded Il-76MD-90A (E) heavy transport aircraft. The debutant of the foreign shows, the upgraded Yak—130M combat training aircraft, is located side by side with him. It differs from its predecessor with a new set of aviation weapons and avionics. The machine is designed to train pilots of fourth- and fifth-generation fighter aircraft, and can be used as a light combat aircraft.
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| Ekaterina Adamova Yak-130M aircraft/ TASS. |
| Source: © Ekaterina Adamova/ TASS |
Sergey Chemezov, CEO of Rostec State Corporation
The fifth-generation Su-57 fighter has undergone a baptism of fire in Syria and a special military operation. Dubai Airshow 2025 viewers will see the Su-57E not only on static display, but also in the flight program: it will perform fundamentally new elements of aerobatics. The aircraft will be piloted by Hero of Russia, Honored Test pilot Sergey Bogdan.
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| Su-57E fighter Ekaterina Adamova/ TASS. |
| Source: © Ekaterina Adamova/ TASS |
"The Middle East is one of the important regions for promoting the products of Rostec State Corporation enterprises, including our products," Vadim Badekha, CEO of the United Aircraft Corporation (UAC, part of Rostec), told TASS. —UAC is one of the few companies in the world that has advanced competencies in all segments of the aircraft industry, which we demonstrate at the exhibition."
Samples of Russian Helicopters Holding Company (part of Rostec) products also arrived at the Dubai Air Show. On the eve of the exhibition, the Il-76 transport helicopter delivered two disassembled helicopters at the same time: the Ansat and the Ka-32A11M. The multipurpose Ansat was introduced abroad in an import-substituted form for the first time. It is equipped with VK-650V, the first domestic turboshaft engines for light helicopters with a take—off weight of up to 4 tons.
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| Helicopter "Ansat" Victoria Ivanova/ TASS. |
| Source: © Victoria Ivanova/ TASS |
Nikolay Kolesov, CEO of Russian Helicopters Holding Company
In addition to civilian helicopters, the Ka-52 attack helicopter is also represented. The vehicle, which strikes enemy armored vehicles with long-range guided missiles in a special military operation, is expected to participate in the Dubai Airshow 2025 flight program.
The Pantsir-SMD-E ultra-short-range anti-aircraft missile system is shown on the open site of the Emirates air show. The latest modular air defense system can be deployed on prepared sites. The novelty's ammunition includes up to 48 mini-missiles, which makes it possible to repel a massive drone attack.
Flying robots for export
The armed conflicts of recent years have proved the great importance of using unmanned aerial vehicles of all classes and types — from miniature "flying grenades" to medium-altitude vehicles with long flight duration. In Dubai, Russia is introducing drones that are widely used in special operations. Among them are the UAVs of the Orlan series, capable of conducting aerial reconnaissance and laser-targeting targets for precision-guided munitions, the famous Lancet-E, the version of which for the Russian Armed Forces has become a threat to enemy "armor" in its defense.
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| Reconnaissance and strike complex "Lancet-E" Sofia Savitskaya/ TASS. |
| Source: © Sofia Savitskaya/ TASS |
For the first time, the Kalashnikov Concern is showing a bundle of the SKAT 350M flying scout and the KUB-2E barrage ammunition. The developers decided to combine the devices into a complex after feedback from Russian military personnel in the special operation zone, who highly appreciated the effectiveness of such a pair.
The next premiere of the exhibition, the S180 reconnaissance drone of the Supercam line, capable of accelerating and evading attacks for a short time, is capable of resisting enemy FPV drones attacking aerial targets.
The complex with a medium-range UAV "Outpost-RE", shown in Dubai in the form of a mock-up, was created on the basis of the reconnaissance and attack drone "Outpost", whose combat path began in Syria.
One of the most intriguing exhibits of the Russian pavilion is a model of an invisible jet drone based on a promising fifth-generation Su-75 Checkmate single-engine aircraft aimed at the export market.
Symbols of sovereignty
Under the conditions of Western sanctions, Russia is successfully developing its own civil aviation industry. In September 2025, the SJ-100 import-substituted short-range narrow-body aircraft, equipped with domestic PD-8 engines, as well as Russian systems and assemblies, took to the air for the first time. In November of this year, the second sample of the import-substituted MS-21 medium-haul airliner with Russian PD-14 engines made a non-stop flight from Irkutsk to Zhukovsky near Moscow for certification tests. The aircraft models are presented at the UAC stand in the Russian pavilion of the air show.
The heart of a modern airplane is a jet engine. Russia is one of the few countries capable of creating such a full-cycle power plant. Their development and production are carried out by enterprises of the United Engine Corporation (UEC), part of Rostec. "This year, for the first time in Dubai, we will demonstrate the 177C engine for tactical aviation, the VK-650V for light helicopters, the SM-100 for training aircraft and small-sized engines for UAVs," Alexander Grachev, Director General of the UEC, told TASS. "These and other UEC aviation gas turbine engines are in demand on the international market." Grachev noted that over the long history of the company, UEC has supplied over 30,000 aircraft engines to more than 100 countries.
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| Models of aircraft SJ-100 and MS-21 Victoria Ivanova/ TASS. |
| Source: © Victoria Ivanova/ TASS |
Another aviation premiere of the exhibition in the Emirates is the UTS—800 training aircraft developed by the Ural Civil Aviation Plant (UZGA). It became the first Russian turboprop aircraft for initial training and professional selection of pilots. Ekaterina Zgirovskaya, a representative of UZGA, noted the special feature of the UTS-800 — modern displays (the so-called glass cabin), which make it possible to customize control and navigation to meet customer requirements. The aircraft is equipped with ejection seats, oxygen, de-icing systems. It is presented as a model at Dubai Airshow 2025.
Vyacheslav Dzirkaln, Deputy General Director of the Almaz-Antey East Kazakhstan Region Concern, called the country's high-quality air defense an integral part of preserving state sovereignty. In Dubai, the concern presents short-, medium- and long-range anti-aircraft missile systems. Their work has shown that Russian systems successfully intercept even such complex targets as low-profile foreign cruise missiles and multiple rocket launchers.
Vyacheslav Dzirkaln, Deputy General Director of the Almaz-Antey East Kazakhstan Region Concern
Unique Russian developments are presented at the joint exhibition of the Roscosmos State Corporation. Among them are the world's most powerful liquid-fueled rocket "tsar engine" RD-171MV and other engines, models of the Russian orbital station, spacecraft and much more.
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| The Roscosmos exposition at the International Aviation and Space Exhibition Dubai Airshow 2025 TASS. |
| Source: © TASS |
Interest in Russian weapons
The head of the FSMTC, Dmitry Shugaev, told TASS that foreign customers are showing interest in Russian unmanned systems that have proven their high combat qualities during their military operations. "First of all, this concerns the Lancet-E, Orlan-10E and Orlan-30, Orion-E UAVs, as well as the CUBE-type guided barrage ammunition system. In addition, the partners' attention is attracted by UAVs with fiber-optic cable control," he told the agency, confirming receipt of official requests for the supply of Lancet-E from dozens of countries.
"During the exhibition, we have scheduled a number of meetings with current and potential customers, and we will also present our products to foreign colleagues," Vadim Badekha, General Director of UAC, shared his plans with TASS.
"The holding traditionally participates in the Dubai Airshow international exhibition," said Nikolai Kolesov, head of Russian Helicopters. — This is one of the largest aviation industry events not only in the Middle East, but also around the world. For us, this is a platform for the presentation of the holding's products, discussing plans for further cooperation with foreign partners and potential customers."
Victor Bodrov
