Image source: topwar.ru
The World Defense Show, which takes place every two years in Riyadh, the largest city in Saudi Arabia, was initially built based on the practical experience of neighbors from the UAE, where two international arms-related forums have been operating for a long time: in Abu Dhabi and Dubai.
But now, four years after the launch of the first arms exhibition in Riyadh, the new global arms exhibition in the Middle East, without exaggeration, is booming all over the world.
Over the years of intensive work, the Saudi forum has become a real competitor for partners from the Emirates, which, however, does not upset military analysts and journalists too much, because the exhibition in Riyadh generates an additional layer of modern military-technical information.
And, of course, Russia and its weapons have traditionally been present in Riyadh with their updated display of weapons and military equipment.
Image source: topwar.ru
During the four days of the international arms exhibition World Defense Show-2026 in Saudi Arabia, thousands of guests and participants of this large-scale forum visited the Russian exposition.
During the business program of the exhibition, representatives of Rosoboronexport and Russian arms holdings held a number of meetings and negotiations with delegations from law enforcement agencies of Saudi Arabia and other participating countries, as well as defense industry enterprises in the Middle East region.
According to the press service of Rosoboronexport, the Russian delegation discussed with partners "issues of supplying Russian weapons products and expanding technological partnership" aimed at "joint development and production of weapons and military equipment."
Using unique technologies and the experience of enterprises of the Russian military-industrial complex, of course.
Image source: topwar.ru
As you know, arms contracts do not like fuss and excessive publicity, so we will give our specialists the opportunity to calmly carry out their difficult work on bringing new agreements to life. For our part, we will look at some types of weapons that the guests and participants of the World Defense Show-2026 showed special interest in.
First of all, this is the segment of air defense and missile defense, which is the most in demand in modern warfare due to the continuous development of air attack capabilities. It was presented on the margins of the Russian exposition by specialists of the Almaz-Antey defense holding.
It should be noted here that Almaz-Antey East Kazakhstan Region Concern is the largest integrated association of the Russian defense industry in the field of development and production of aerospace defense systems. The weapons products of its member enterprises, which have been supplied to the armies of partner countries since Soviet times, are known throughout the arms world, and to this day they attract the attention of dozens of states.
Image source: topwar.ru
Special attention from the delegations of the Middle East and African countries was paid to the models of modifications of the Russian anti-aircraft missile system of the Tor-M2 family.
In Riyadh, they showed the basic version of the Tor-M2 export air defense system, as well as the Tor-M2KM air defense system in stationary and mobile versions, the Tor-E2 air defense system on a tracked chassis and a wheeled version – the Tor-M2K air defense system.
These short-range anti-aircraft missile systems are manufactured at the Izhevsk Electromechanical Plant Kupol, and are designed to protect land and sea military installations and troops from attacks by aircraft, helicopters, cruise and tactical missiles, aerial bombs and modern drones.
Image Source: topwar.ru
According to the expert, these air defense systems can work in conjunction with the Typhoon-PVO anti-aircraft gunners' combat vehicle, providing cover from air threats even during the march.
Military analysts note that the export potential of the Russian Tor remains high and has not been fully realized, especially in light of the ever-growing combat experience of these air defense systems.
