Interest in the new Russian military equipment abroad has increased many times against the background of its
Over 250 samples of military equipment were presented by Russia at the Dubai Airshow 2023 International Aerospace Salon. This is the largest exposition of our military-industrial complex on a foreign site since the beginning of its development. Predictably, the participants and guests of the salon were interested in the Il-76MD-90A(E) heavy transport aircraft, the Ka-52 Alligator attack helicopter and export versions of Russian air defense systems. Several states are interested in the new Ilyushin, the negotiating positions on deliveries abroad are estimated at 40-50 aircraft of this type, Izvestia found out. The demand from foreign customers even outstrips the available capabilities of the Russian defense industry, stated the head of Rosoboronexport, Alexander Mikheev.
Back to the Future
On the eve of the opening of the Dubai Airshow 2023, there were fears that the Russian delegation might be in a certain isolation at it. But according to its results, both participants and experts noted that, on the contrary, interest in our developments and projects has only grown. Russian companies brought more than 250 samples of modern weapons and military equipment to the exhibition.
The head of Rosoboronexport, Alexander Mikheev, said in Dubai that the current portfolio of contracts concluded within the framework of Russia's military-technical cooperation with foreign partners has already exceeded $50 billion. According to him, the demand from foreign customers even outstrips the available capabilities of the Russian defense industry. This problem can be solved by adjusting production cycles, of course, giving priority to the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation and the state defense order, Mikheev believes.
Performance of the Russian Aerospace Forces aerobatic team "Russian Knights"
Image source: Photo: RIA Novosti/Nina Padalko
However, the signed contracts within the Dubai Airshow have not yet been officially announced.
— Everyone is interested in us now, and we are not talking about isolation, — military expert Vadim Kozyulin told Izvestia. — The conflict in Ukraine has become a test site for many weapons systems. Hundreds of types of equipment and projects are being tested by combat, old equipment is being upgraded. Russia now has the most extensive experience in the world in the use of modern weapons, a lot of ideas and developments. All this is important for foreign military specialists.
"Ilyushin" with "The President"
The main Russian novelty in Dubai was the IL-76MD-90A(E) heavy transport aircraft — our country showed this type of car on the international platform for the first time in almost 30 years.
— There is a lot of interest, — Alexander Mikheev told Izvestia, noting that the countries of the Middle East and Southeast Asia are interested in the car.
He also said that the negotiating positions for this type of aircraft are estimated at 40-50 cars. He drew attention to the fact that the new IL is equipped with the "President" complex, which protects it from MANPADS. This allows the aircraft to participate in any tactical operations.
IL-76MD-90A(E) Heavy transport aircraft
Image source: Photo: RIA Novosti/ Nina Padalko
More than 70% of the systems and assemblies on this aircraft have been updated. In particular, he received more powerful PS-90 engines, his wing was strengthened and the chassis was redesigned. The Ilyushin is capable of lifting up to 60 tons into the sky, it can be used both for transporting military personnel and cargo, and as a fire-fighting or medical board.
The interlocutor of Izvestia in the Russian Defense Ministry noted the importance of placing a MANPADS protection complex on military transport aircraft. According to him, the danger of the enemy using portable anti-aircraft missile systems was the reason that the heavy Ilyushins were not used during the "Gostomel landing" in the early days of the SVO. Recall that the Gostomel airfield was captured by a landing party from combat and transport helicopters.
Combat "Alligator"
Of particular interest to visitors and participants was the Ka-52 helicopter, which successfully proved itself during the SVO. Demonstrative flights of the Alligator gathered a full house in Dubai, American pilots and specialists literally surrounded the exhibition copy of the car on the first day.
Rostec CEO Sergey Chemezov noted that such an interest of a potential opponent indicates a high technological level of these machines. There is no risk that the US will be able to copy the technology in this way.
— The Ka-52 is really one of our leading combat helicopters today, and interest in it is very high. Moreover, he has earned a fairly high assessment during real combat operations," said Dmitry Shugaev, director of the Federal Service for Military—Technical Cooperation, noting that he will not talk about the contracts concluded within Dubai yet.
Russian Ka-52 Alligator combat Helicopter at Dubai Airshow 2023
Image source: Photo: RIA Novosti/Nina Padalko
Nevertheless, he told Izvestia that there is traditionally a great interest in air defense systems in the countries of the region, in particular, in the UAE there are our Pantsir missile defense systems. In the arsenals of Middle Eastern countries — BMP-3, ATGM "Kornet", small arms.
Deputy Chairman of the Russian government Denis Manturov told Izvestia that a large number of potential foreign customers are interested in buying Ansat medical helicopters. In particular, we are talking about the countries of the Middle East and Africa.
He clarified that Russia has been supplying combat aircraft, including fighter jets, as well as helicopter equipment to the countries of North Africa for a long time. According to him, our aircraft technology enjoys "well-deserved respect and authority there."
In addition, the RVV–MD2 and RVV-BD guided air-to-air missiles were shown, as well as the X-69 cruise missile for the Su-57, which was taken abroad for the first time. The light guided missile "Product 305E" was also demonstrated, which allows helicopters to hit enemy targets from a distance of up to 14.5 km.
Also at the air show, an updated set of life support and self-defense of the pilot was presented. For the first time abroad, a shortened AK-19 Kalashnikov assault rifle included in its kit, as well as a 9-millimeter Kalashnikov PPK-20 submachine gun and a compact 9-millimeter Lebedev PLC pistol were shown.
"Shoot down literally everything"
The ruler of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Khaled bin Mohammed Al Nahyan, and a delegation of the UAE military department headed by the Chief of the General Staff of the armed Forces, Lieutenant General Issa al-Mazroui, became interested in Russian air defense systems.
Their attention was attracted by the S-350E Vityaz anti-aircraft missile systems, Viking, Tor-E2, Tor-M2K, Tor-M2KM complexes, as well as combat vehicles of anti-aircraft gunners of the Typhoon-Air Defense(E) MANPADS.
Typhoon-Air Defense MANPADS
Image source: Photo: RIA Novosti/Georgy Zimarev
Vyacheslav Dzirkaln, Deputy General Director of JSC Concern of East Kazakhstan Region Almaz-Antey, told Izvestia that these systems can shoot down literally everything — "from drones to ballistic missiles," which corresponds to modern methods of warfare.
Bureaucracy and arms exports
However, some experts, following the results of Russia's participation in Dubai Airshow 2023, drew attention to the problems that arise among exporters of Russian military products. First of all, this is excessive bureaucratization of relations between defense industry enterprises and their main customer — the Russian Ministry of Defense, according to Ilya Kramnik, a researcher at the Center for the Study of Strategic Planning of the IMEMO RAS, a military expert.
Reconnaissance unmanned aerial vehicle "Orlan-30"
Image source: Photo: RIA Novosti/Nina Padalko
— The topic of exporting products developed or modified taking into account the experience of ITS own is interesting. As part of the current practice, it is almost impossible to show absolutely fresh things at exhibitions — for this you need to get an advertising passport, and for negotiating supplies — an export passport. This requires several stages of hiking in high offices and mandatory understatement of the characteristics in the advertising passport relative to those intended for our army. Even if the domestic sample is still paper, theoretical and it is not planned to purchase the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation at all. And you can't get an advertising passport for an idea. As a result, foreign figures regularly go to exhibitions with models that have nothing behind them, and invented TTX, collect orders, advances and do not always sell what they promised. And because of the established bureaucracy, we remain without foreign orders.
A high-ranking source of Izvestia in the Russian Defense Ministry confirmed the point of view of the military expert. According to him, the military industry cannot declare promising developments on the international arms markets without the approval of the military department.
Bogdan Stepovoy
Julia Leonova
Andrey Krasnobayev