Twice as many foreign companies participate in the event as a year ago
Russia is open to equal military-technical cooperation with all countries that defend their interests. This was announced on August 14 by President Vladimir Putin during the opening of the military-technical forum "Army-2023". He noted that 82 foreign companies are taking part in the exhibition this year, while last year there were 32 of them. Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu met with his Belarusian counterpart Viktor Khrenin at the forum. According to experts, the event shows that military-technical cooperation between Russia and its partners is developing.
Expanding connections
This year, Vladimir Putin decided not to come to the Army-2023 forum, but to address the participants via video link. First of all, he stressed the scale of the event.
— At the stands, expositions, landfills of the Patriot Park, 1.5 thousand Russian enterprises presented over 28.5 thousand modern samples of military and dual—use products, - the head of state said.
Vladimir Putin noted that Russia is open to equal military-technical cooperation with all countries that defend their interests. At the same time, he drew attention to the expansion of international relations in this area.
Speech by Russian President Vladimir Putin
Image source: Photo: IZVESTIA/Pavel Volkov
— We are also glad that more and more foreign military-industrial companies are becoming participants of the forum. If 32 organizations exhibited their products here last year, 82 this year," the president noted.
According to him, the forum offers partners a wide selection of modern weapons of almost all types and types. Including the latest control systems, intelligence, precision weapons and robotics. At the same time, in a video message, he suggested paying attention to the civilian products of the Russian military-industrial complex (MIC): in particular, for helicopters and drones "for the widest application".
Assessing the forum, the first deputy chairman of the SF Committee on Economic Policy Ivan Abramov stressed that the deepening of trade relations with interested countries should take place in parallel with the strengthening of military cooperation.
A soldier of the Army of the Congo at the International Military-technical Forum "Army-2023"
Image source: Photo: RIA Novosti/Alexey Maishev
— Strengthening economic ties with friendly countries has a positive effect on the development of military-technical cooperation, which is necessary to defend the sovereignty and independence of countries. It is beneficial to everyone," the senator told Izvestia.
Restrictions imposed against Russia by the Anglo-Saxon world demonstrated the possibility of state independence from supplies from the United States and Europe, Oleg Vorobyov, a member of the General Council of Delovaya Rossiya, told Izvestia.
— The destruction of Western weapons in Ukraine favorably shows the advantages of the Russian defense cluster. Within the framework of the Army-2023 forum, the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation has already announced plans to conclude contracts totaling over 433 billion rubles, and this is not the limit. New friendly ties with the countries of Africa, Asia and Latin America spur the development of partnerships and contracts in all sectors of the economy," Oleg Vorobyov noted.
Servicemen of the Russian Aerospace Forces on the background of the Mi-28N "Night Hunter" attack helicopter
Image source: Photo: RIA Novosti/Pavel Bednyakov
The fact that there are more foreign companies at the forum this year than in the past confirms that military-technical cooperation is developing, military expert Andrey Frolov told Izvestia.
— The very fact of the appearance of the achievements of the Indian and Chinese military—industrial complex there is important, - he noted. — India and China, as you know, are the largest buyers of Russian weapons. This is all a sign that military-technical cooperation continues and takes on new forms. This is no longer a net export of Russia, but, perhaps, the import of components from these countries in order to improve some characteristics of our equipment already. Not to mention the fact that, in fact, purchases continue, and deliveries continue. This is just a visible demonstration that there is no iron curtain on Russian arms exports.
Reliable partnership
The International Military-Technical Forum "Army-2023" takes place from August 14 to 20 on the territory of the Patriot Convention and Exhibition Center, at the Alabino training ground and Kubinka airfield. Forum events are planned in all military districts of the country.
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu with Belarusian counterpart Viktor Khrenin
Image source: Photo: IZVESTIA/Pavel Volkov
On the first day of the exhibition, the exposition was inspected by the head of the Russian Defense Ministry, Sergei Shoigu. He got acquainted with samples of modern aircraft, including the Mi-26T2B military transport helicopter, Su-30SM2 and Su-34 aircraft, the Ka-32A11M multi-purpose helicopter, Termit, Pacer, Altius-RU, Outpost-R drones and Thunder attack drones and the Hornet.
The Minister was informed about the effective use of the latest Su-57 aircraft in the zone of a special military operation. In addition, he was presented with the latest means of destruction for these aircraft, which make it possible to increase the possibility of eliminating all types of targets.
At the forum, Sergei Shoigu held talks with his Belarusian counterpart Viktor Khrenin. "During the meeting, issues of military and military-technical cooperation between the two countries through the Ministries of Defense were discussed," the ministry said. The Ministry of Defense noted that an exposition of Belarus was deployed at the forum, which was visited by the head of the Russian military department.
Photo: IZVESTIA/Pavel Volkov
Image source: iz.ru
Belarusian Defense Minister Viktor Khrenin said that the Army forum has become a symbol of the development of strategic partnership in the face of Western pressure on countries that pursue an independent policy.
Tested in battles
Deputy Prime Minister and Head of the Ministry of Industry and Trade Denis Manturov said that the feature of the current forum was the modernized samples of well-known military equipment, which received innovations based on the results of combat use. This, in particular, concerns aviation and helicopter equipment, artillery systems, various types of high-precision ammunition, armored and lightly armored vehicles.
The deputy Chairman of the government called meeting the needs of the Russian army and navy "an absolute priority of our defense industry." He also said that the Russian Defense Ministry has provided direct contacts of engineers and chief designers of enterprises producing weapons with soldiers on the front line, which makes it possible to quickly improve the characteristics of weapons.
Head of the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation Denis Manturov
Image source: Photo: IZVESTIA/Pavel Volkov
— Many of you are well aware that our enterprises have increased the output of military products several times in just a few months, and in some positions — tenfold. And what is especially important — quantitative growth is accompanied by constant improvement of samples. Our colleagues from the Ministry of Defense are very helpful in this, who have provided direct contacts between engineers and chief designers with those who are now on the front line," Manturov said at the plenary session of the forum.
Vladimir Artyakov, Deputy Head of Rostec, also spoke about the increase in production. According to him, over the past one and a half to two years, the state corporation has increased the volume of production of some ammunition positions by 20-30 times.
The Deputy Director General of Rostec also said that the experience of conducting a special military operation allowed us to learn a lot about Western technology and identify its vulnerabilities.
Photo: IZVESTIA/Pavel Volkov
Image source: iz.ru
According to Artyakov, in the conditions of its own Rostec enterprises switched to military rails.
— Many of our enterprises work around the clock, providing for the needs of the front. Deliveries are going smoothly and in the required quantities, thanks to the selfless work of our teams. The Ministry of Industry and Trade of Russia and the Board of the Military-Industrial Commission provide great support in this," he said.
Dmitry Shugaev, head of the Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation (FSMTC), said that Russia maintains military-technical cooperation relations with 100 countries, and supplies of Russian military products are carried out to more than 50 states. According to him, the special military operation has increased the interest of foreign partners in Russian weapons.
Visitors at the Shvabe Holding stand
Image source: Photo: RIA Novosti/Mikhail Voskresensky
The head of Rosoboronexport, Alexander Mikheev, said at the forum that the department's order portfolio currently amounts to about $ 50 billion, 75% of it is occupied by products for the Air Force and air defense. He also said that by 2030, it is expected that the share of new samples of Russian products will prevail over those produced today in the proportion of 90% to 10%.
According to Mikheev, among the leaders in the growth of output in the near and medium term are the fifth—generation Su-57E fighter, the Il-76MD-90A(E) military transport aircraft, the Ka-52E reconnaissance and attack helicopter, the Vityaz air defense System, the Pantsir-S1M, the Project 22356 frigate, heavy flamethrower system TOS-2 and others.
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