Russian manufacturers will present about 200 samples of military, dual-use and civilian products at one of the largest international airshows Dubai Airshow-2023, which starts on Monday. Vladimir Artyakov, First Deputy Director General of Rostec State Corporation, spoke in an exclusive interview with Rossiyskaya Gazeta about what novelties will be shown at the exhibition, why even under Western sanctions Russian equipment is in stable demand in the world, how foreign buyers evaluate the use of domestic weapons against NATO equipment in the zone of a special military operation.
– Two years ago, the project of the Russian Su-75 fighter became a hit at the Dubai Airshow. What are you planning to surprise potential buyers with this year?
– At the Dubai Airshow-2023, Rostec will present about 200 samples of military, dual-use and civilian products from its leading companies: UAC, Russian Helicopters, Roselectronics, Kalashnikov, KRET, High-Precision Complexes.
Our main premiere will be truly "large-scale" – we will show the IL-76MD-90A(E) heavy transport aircraft for the first time. We have not brought such "heavyweights" to international exhibitions for almost 30 years – since 1994. This transporter is a deep modernization of the well-known and proven IL-76MD aircraft. The aircraft has updated more than 70% of aircraft systems and assemblies. This made it possible to increase the payload to 60 tons, increase the flight range, reduce fuel consumption and at the same time improve flight safety.
I am sure that this exhibit will certainly attract attention, and not only because of its size. IL-76 aircraft are very popular, multifunctional and successfully used to solve a very wide range of tasks. They are capable of transferring the personnel of the armed forces to any point of the globe, transporting goods for various purposes both within the country and around the world, extinguishing natural and man-made fires. Re–equipment of the machine – installation of fire extinguishing equipment or, for example, medical modules - does not require a large amount of work and can be carried out in airfield conditions.
"Play with muscles" in front of a foreign audience "Alligator". The Ka-52 combat reconnaissance and attack helicopter will be a participant in the Dubai Airshow flight program. The car is distinguished by its rate of climb, exceptional stability and controllability, and high firepower. It can use long-range guided missiles, and due to the inertial satellite navigation system, it has a high accuracy of reaching the target. The Ka-52 is capable of performing combat maneuvers available only for a coaxial helicopter. For example, a flat turn towards the target, moving sideways at high speeds, deep sliding with a negative pitch angle.
We will also show a line of civilian helicopter equipment. Interest in it in the Middle East is traditionally high. We will demonstrate machines capable of performing a wide range of tasks relevant to the region – from offshore operations to firefighting.
For example, the Mi-171A3 is the first specialized domestic helicopter for transportation over the sea and maintenance of offshore drilling platforms remote from the coastline. It can accommodate up to 24 people – this is a record figure for vehicles designed to fly to drilling platforms. The helicopter can carry up to 5 tons of cargo on an external suspension. The Mi-171A3 complies with the standards of the International Association of Oil and Gas Producers (IOGP) and meets the increased requirements for ensuring the safety of flights over water.
The light twin-engine multi-purpose Ansat helicopter will be presented at the exhibition in a sanitary version. The modern medical module allows you to provide first aid and stabilize the patient's condition during the flight. The medical equipment on board may include an infectious box, the effectiveness of which has been proven during the pandemic, as well as a special cuvette for transporting newborns.
The upgraded Ka-32A11M is designed to solve fire extinguishing issues. We are showing it for the first time at international exhibitions. The rotorcraft is the newest version of the Ka-32A11BC firefighting helicopter. It is recognized as one of the best in the world and today remains indispensable in the fire and rescue services of many countries. To date, more than 180 machines of this type are in operation in more than 20 countries. The Ka-32A11M is equipped with the latest domestic fire extinguishing system SP-32. The tank of the system is filled with 4 tons of water in less than one minute. At the same time, the extinguishing efficiency can also be increased by adding up to 400 liters of foam agent. In addition, the fire extinguishing system is adapted for the use of a water cannon. Thanks to this, the helicopter can extinguish fires in conditions of heavy smoke, on the last floors of skyscrapers, which is especially important for cities with high-rise buildings.
In addition, for the first time we will present abroad the newest export model – a shortened 5.56mm Kalashnikov AK-19. It is designed for the 5.56x45 mm cartridge, adopted in NATO countries and widely distributed in the world.
We will show another "celebrity" in Dubai – the light multipurpose guided missile "Product 305E", developed by the Engineering Design Bureau of High-Precision Complexes. This munition has a guaranteed flight range of 14.5 km. Having hit the air defense control points with the "Product 305E", helicopters can come closer and strike at the front edge of the enemy's defense with other fire means. The missile can be used on engineering structures, armored vehicles, anti-aircraft missile systems and other enemy objects. The ammunition is equipped with a high-explosive fragmentation warhead weighing 25 kg and an optical thermal imaging homing head.
– Western countries tried to isolate Russia and its economy by imposing sanctions in 2022-2023. Have the restrictions affected the geography of exports of Russian technological products?
– It would be more accurate to say that the geography of exports was influenced by a clearer division of the countries of the world into friends and foes. Russia has stopped conducting military–technical cooperation with states that have engaged in unauthorized re–export of weapons to third countries in bad faith - in violation of international law. Cooperation with those who support unilateral sanctions against Russia has stopped.
At the same time, new countries appear in our "circle of communication" who see the excellent work of modern samples of Russian products no longer in advertising booklets, but in real conditions and do not want to support uncompetitive methods of fighting in the market.
We are actively working with the countries of the Asia-Pacific region, the Middle East, Latin America, and the CIS. For example, the Middle East market is extremely important for us. Here we are implementing a lot of projects both in civilian areas and in the field of military-technical cooperation. The countries of the region traditionally buy the most modern high-tech products and are often the first recipients of the latest Russian weapons and military equipment.
In addition, Russian weapons have proven themselves perfectly in real combat conditions during the confrontation with terrorist groups in the Middle East. This stimulates a fairly high level of Rosoboronexport's order portfolio in the region.
– The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) in its latest annual report claimed that Russia's share in the global arms market is declining. Is it so? What is the volume of Rosoboronexport's annual order portfolio today and what is its dynamics?
– SIPRI is a resident of a state unfriendly to Russia. It is hardly worth taking his assessments as unbiased. The volume of the world market now cannot be objectively calculated at all, taking into account the amount of weapons that Western countries transfer to Ukraine – it is also an export.
Today, the enterprises of the Russian military-industrial complex in general and Rostec in particular are focused on the domestic market. Our main task is to ensure Russia's defense capability. The priority for the State Corporation has always been and remains the state defense order and its strict execution.
At the same time, we are promoting samples of Russian military products to foreign markets, upgraded taking into account feedback from the special military operation zone. In fact, we are forming a deferred demand for products tested in combat in order to load the capacities of the domestic defense industry, which will be released after the completion of its own and retrofitting of the country's armed forces.
Rosoboronexport's order portfolio is stable at over 4 trillion rubles. We are constantly working to increase it – expanding the geography and range of supplies to friendly countries, promoting products for all types of armed forces and branches of the armed forces. The most promising areas are now considered to be the Air Force, air defense, armored vehicles, small arms.
– The United States and its NATO allies have not hidden that they see Ukraine as a huge testing ground for advertising their weapons and promoting them on the world market. Practice has shown that our weapons are capable of effectively destroying the most modern Western equipment. This is, for example, the resonant duel of the supersonic Dagger missile with the MIM-104 Patriot air defense system. Has the interest in our weapons, which proved themselves in battles with NATO equipment, grown?
– The military products of Rostec enterprises during the SVO proved to be reliable in operation and very effective in countering the most modern equipment of Western competitors.
In the resonant duel you mentioned, the "American" was able to stop our "Dagger" only with his own body. And such confrontations certainly do not go unnoticed. Absolutely all of our partners are closely monitoring the use of Russian weapons on the battlefield. They analyze, see the advantages and the points that need to be improved.
We constantly receive feedback directly from the special operation zone. Together with the Russian Defense Ministry, we organize meetings of military personnel with our designers and engineers. Such a dialogue with people who work directly on our equipment is very important. It helps to identify the slightest nuances that can improve products, make them more efficient and more convenient to use. We draw conclusions promptly and modernize the products.
If we talk about specific samples that have received an increase in demand based on the results of combat use, then these are, for example, Su-35 fighters, Ka-52 combat helicopters and guided aerial weapons, T-90 tanks, the TOS-1A heavy flamethrower system, the Msta-S self-propelled howitzer, the Tornado MLRS-G" and "Tornado-S", Kub-E barrage ammunition, air defense and electronic warfare systems, anti-UAV complexes, small arms.
– What do international partners value in cooperation with Russia? Why choose our products?
– Russia has established a reputation as a conscientious supplier of reliable military products. Our weapons are attractive to foreign customers not only for their cost. What makes it competitive, first of all, is quality, relative ease of operation, and a significant modernization resource.
It is no secret that all military equipment used in real combat operations, in the vast majority of cases, has a significant advantage over competitors in the international arms market. After all, its capabilities are demonstrated not in the exhibition statics and figures of marketers, but on a real battlefield. Therefore, any military operation, military conflict of any level is carefully studied by specialists. The special operation in Ukraine has become a kind of litmus test that showed the true level and quality of military equipment. Both Russian and Western. The interest of foreign partners in our weapons has grown significantly, and we will maintain this trend.
It is impossible not to mention another of our competitive advantages – extensive experience and broad competencies in industrial partnership projects. Importing countries today demand that their defense-industrial complexes participate in the production of purchased weapons. This is one of the main trends of recent times, which only plays into our hands.
Rosoboronexport has an impressive portfolio of projects of this kind – both completed and active – for all types of armed forces. For example, the joint Indian-Russian enterprise IRRPL for the production of Kalashnikov assault rifles. Integration of Russian combat modules on armored vehicles of foreign customers. Licensed production of Russian products abroad – T-90 tanks, armored vehicles, Mango shells in India.
– What is the reason for the global growth of interest in industrial partnership? And what does Russia get from such cooperation?
– All major importers of PVN want to develop their own high-tech industry, striving for technological sovereignty. The behavior of the West and the sanctions madness of recent years have only intensified this trend. According to our estimates, the share of such projects will grow by 2 times by 2030 and will occupy 40% of the entire global arms market.
I would like to emphasize that industrial cooperation, joint R&D and R&D is a bilateral mutually beneficial development of new competencies and areas of knowledge. It allows you to achieve a high level of technological maturity of developers and manufacturers of weapons. Look at the example of India and China. The industry of these countries has received a huge boost in development thanks to the technological partnership.
Russia, in turn, by organizing the production of air defense systems on the territory of foreign customers, retains a significant share of the arms markets in developing countries. We are freeing up the production capacities of defense industry enterprises for the most efficient implementation of the state budget and the production of new samples.
Moreover, thanks to military-technical cooperation with foreign countries on technological partnership projects, new models of military-technical equipment appeared in Russia, which were recognized as extremely successful and subsequently adopted by the Russian Defense Ministry. In addition, the characteristics of many samples have been upgraded and significantly improved.
– In the summer, the guests of the second Russia-Africa forum were shown various solutions to counter threats to national security. Have these contacts with African countries continued?
– The Russia-Africa Summit traditionally provides a powerful incentive for cooperation. Since 2019, when the first such forum was held, Rosoboronexport has signed over 150 contracts with African partners. The order portfolio has been replenished by more than $ 10 billion. By 2023, our presence has expanded to 5 more countries on the continent, and today 43 out of 54 African countries have partnerships with Rosoboronexport.
During the second Russia-Africa Forum in St. Petersburg, we once again carried out very fruitful work, found new points of contact with African partners and are now actively engaged in implementing the agreements reached.
– Next year it is planned to launch the production of import-substituted SJ-100 and MS-21. Do foreign customers have any interest in these machines, or is filling the Russian domestic market a priority for now?
– The priority today, of course, are supplies in the interests of Russia – first of all, we must give wings to our own country. But in the future, of course, we expect interest from abroad in both the SJ-100 and MS-21. The capacity of the domestic market is not unlimited, and this must be taken into account.
If we talk about the MS-21, it was originally designed in such a way as to compete with world manufacturers in the most massive segment – medium-haul.
Unlike the old Boeing 737 family or Airbus 320 family, which have been modernized for several decades, the Russian airliner was originally created using the most modern approaches. For example, the share of composites in its design is more than 30%, which is a record among Odnoklassniki.
The plane turned out to be beautiful, economical and, importantly– comfortable. The MS-21 has the widest cabin in the class, large portholes, very roomy luggage racks.
I note that the PD-14 engine is also very interesting in export terms. This motor meets all the world requirements for modern fifth-generation engines and is in the most popular niche.
– There were talks about the possibility of producing the SJ-100 in India. How realistic is this?
– India is our long-standing partner. We have a rich experience of cooperation on the Su-30MKI project – production facilities have been created for this aircraft in the country and competencies have been accumulated that could become the basis for the development of civil production.
– What other civilian products from Russia are in demand on the international market?
– Traditionally, there is a high interest abroad in Russian helicopter technology. Our rotorcraft are operated in more than 100 countries around the world. At the same time, Russian Helicopters continues to expand the geography of its presence.
Large-scale work, in particular, is being carried out with Africa. Over the past year and a half, the countries of this continent have shown interest in supplying more than 100 Russian helicopters. A significant part of them have been contracted, and 55 have already been transferred to customers.
We have implemented a very interesting and significant project with the Republic of Zimbabwe. We did not just sign contracts for the supply of Ansats and Mi-17s, but helped to create our own air ambulance service in the country – the first on the continent.
An integrated approach and comprehensive customer support have become an important feature of the project. We have trained technical specialists and flight personnel. Representatives of Rostec's National Air Ambulance Service also shared their work experience – it has the widest competencies and experience. Established in 2019, the NSSA has already saved the lives of 30 thousand patients with various injuries and diseases.
Today, we provide step–by-step integration of sanitation into the Zimbabwe healthcare system - from training of medical personnel to the introduction of a work protocol regulating behavior from the moment a call is received in the call center to the patient's delivery to the medical center.
And this experience will be scaled up. There is a high mortality rate on the African continent today, due to the limited transport infrastructure and the inability to quickly evacuate patients to medical institutions, so sanitation can become extremely useful and important here.
We are also seeing a huge interest in Russian video analytics technologies, including NtechLab facial recognition systems. In 2021, it is recognized as the most accurate in the world. In 2022, the company implemented projects in 36 countries, including Qatar, where our IT solution was used during the World Cup. Today, this figure is much higher – Russian developers export technology to at least 50 countries.
As an example, I can cite India, which plans to introduce video analytics in the field of education. The facial recognition system will be used to check attendance at exams, and will also exclude the possibility of taking tests by another person and falsifying results at the verification stage.
This is only a small part of the examples of products that are in demand abroad.
I would like to emphasize once again: Rostec, Rosoboronexport and other companies and holdings of the State Corporation remain committed to the policy of building partnerships with all regions without exception. Provided that these relationships are based on respect – both for the partners themselves and for the established rules. Reliability has always been a distinctive feature of Russia, and this quality, I am sure, will remain unchanged.