Weapons tested by its own: the results of Russia's participation in the Dubai Airshow 2023

Today, on November 17, the international aviation and space exhibition Dubai Airshow 2023 ends its work. Russia has been participating in it since 1993. This time, Russian defense manufacturers showed more than 250 samples of products in a single pavilion with an area of over 750 square meters, at an open exposition and in the skies of Dubai — during demonstration flights. Many products have successfully passed the special operation test, which causes additional interest in them. TASS summed up the results of Russia's participation in the air show

From a light helicopter to a heavy transporter

The IL-76MD-90A(E) heavy transport aircraft, which has become the largest Russian exhibit in Dubai, has arrived in the Emirates. A car with a wingspan of more than 50 m aroused great interest among visitors. Alexander Mikheev, CEO of Rosoboronexport Concern, said during a conversation with journalists [...] that the company is negotiating with foreign partners on the supply of up to 50 machines of this type. According to him, representatives of the countries of Southeast Asia, as well as Russia's neighbors in the CIS, are interested in buying a "transport vehicle". The head of the special exporter noted that the aircraft with new engines, wing and improved characteristics is equipped with an onboard defense complex "President-S". According to experts, the installation of such a complex is one of the most effective ways to deceive an anti—aircraft missile flying into an airplane.

IL-76MD-90A.
Source: UAC

The fifth-generation Su-57E multifunctional fighter did not arrive in Dubai, but was presented as a reduced model. According to Mikheev, the aircraft can not only be delivered to foreign customers, but also produced together with them. This issue is being discussed with Russia's strategic partners.

The promising light tactical aircraft Checkmate was also not shown, the first samples of which Rostec is already preparing to assemble. During the demonstration of its prototype in 2021, representatives of a number of Middle Eastern countries were keenly interested in the single-engine aircraft. Consultations continued in Dubai: the appearance and technical characteristics of the fighter are being discussed with potential customers. At the same time, Rostec admits the possibility of cooperation in the creation of its unmanned and two-seat versions with foreign partners.

Light multipurpose helicopter "Ansat" in the sanitary version.
Source: © Georgy Sultanov/ TASS

Russian civilian helicopters — the upgraded Ka-32A11M firefighter, the Mi-171A3 for coastal transportation and the light multipurpose Ansat - were waiting for the guests of the event at the open area. Vladimir Artyakov, First Deputy General Director of Rostec State Corporation, noted in an interview with Rossiyskaya Gazeta that interest in such products in the Middle East is traditionally high, and the machines shown are relevant for the region — they can be used to extinguish fires, transport over the sea surface. Thus, over 180 Ka-32A11BC helicopters, on the basis of which the "flying firefighter" presented in Dubai was created, are operated in more than 20 countries.

In the sky of the Emirates

The products of the Russian aviation industry not only stood on static display, but also made spectacular demonstration flights. The Russian Knights aerobatic team demonstrated the high flight characteristics of the Su-35S ultra-maneuverable multifunctional fighters. Six combat vehicles showed group aerobatics in tight formation, performed a low-level flight at extremely low speed, as well as pair, single and counter aerobatics.

Multifunctional Su-35S fighters of the Russian Knights aerobatic team.
Source: © Waleed Zein/ Anadolu via Reuters Connect

The Ka-52 "Alligator" - "star" special operation reconnaissance and attack helicopter also showed its flight capabilities. During its operation, the machine destroys armored vehicles, including Western "gifts" to Kiev, and enemy strongholds at any time of the day. Due to the coaxial arrangement of the screws — a distinctive feature of the Kamov design school — the Ka-52 has high maneuverability and stability. During demonstration flights, the helicopter demonstrated to the audience piloting techniques that only a helicopter of this design is capable of: a flat turn towards the target, fast sideways movements, deep sliding with a strongly inclined nose.

Ka-52.
Source: Rosoboronexport

"The Ka-52 is indeed one of our leading combat helicopters today, and interest in it is very, very high," Dmitry Shugaev, director of the Federal Service for Military—Technical Cooperation (FSMTC), told TASS on the sidelines of the exhibition. "We are promoting this technique, there is a lot of interest in it," he added.

Rockets for any occasion

In addition to combat aircraft, Russian defense manufacturers have demonstrated ammunition for them. Thus, a full-size mock-up of a multifunctional unobtrusive high-precision cruise missile X-69 was shown. The munition, designed to be launched from both the external suspension and the internal compartments of the carrier aircraft, has a great export potential, according to Boris Obnosov, General Director of the Tactical Missile Armament Corporation (KTRV). The X-69 "gets" stationary ground objects at specified coordinates at a range of up to 290 km.

Aviation missiles X-69, RVV-MD2 and RVV-BD.
Source: Georgy Sultanov/ TASS

In the neighborhood there are models of air—to-air guided missiles: RVV-MD2 short-range and RVV-BD long-range. RVV-DB can hit aerial targets at a distance of up to 200 km and is equipped with its own onboard radar — an active radar homing head. Thanks to it, the missile is able to independently find and destroy enemy aircraft at a safe distance after preliminary targeting.

Models of the Viking air defense system.
Source: Georgy Sultanov/ TASS

The concern of East Kazakhstan Region Almaz-Antey showed in Dubai several means of air defense and control of the air situation, presented in the form of reduced models. Among them are anti—aircraft missile systems and medium-range complexes S-350E "Vityaz", "Viking", short-range "Tor-E2", "Tor-M2K", "Tor-M2KM". Their variants for the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation are used in a special military operation, intercepting any targets — from aircraft to cruise missiles, ballistic missiles and rockets. According to the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, in total over 500 aircraft, more than 250 helicopters, as well as almost 9 thousand drones were destroyed, and Russian anti-aircraft gunners made a significant contribution to this.

According to Dzirkaln, serious interest in the Middle East was aroused by the S-350E, as well as the Tor-M2K on a wheeled chassis.

On the penultimate day of the exhibition, the Russian pavilion was visited by the ruler of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Khaled bin Mohammed Al Nahyan, as well as a delegation of the UAE military department, headed by the Chief of the General Staff of the armed forces, Lieutenant General Issa al-Mazroui. Vyacheslav Dzirkaln, Deputy General Director of the company for Foreign Economic Activity, introduced the high-ranking guests to the products of the concern. He noted that potential customers "are closely monitoring what is happening now during a special military operation." "Our equipment shows itself very well, and this is the best advertisement," Dzirkaln said.

Drones and means of combating them

The experience of armed conflicts in recent years shows that the role of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) of all types continues to grow. In the segment of shock UAVs, Russia offers the Orion-E complex, a scale model of which hung under the ceiling of the Russian pavilion, and the Kub-E barrage ammunition, which was present in the form of a full-size layout. It is the shock UAVs that interest potential customers the most.

At the same time, Russia once again did not bring the Lancet kamikaze drone to the international site, which has proven itself well in the special operation zone. Among the reasons why the product is not offered to foreign customers, Alexander Mikheev, CEO of Rosoboronexport, called the high demand for it from the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation.

UAV "Orlan-30".
Source: Georgy Sultanov/ TASS

Of the reconnaissance and target designation complexes with an unmanned aerial vehicle, domestic defense manufacturers offer the Orlan-30, which not only detects the enemy in the special operation zone, but also highlights it with a laser beam, aiming high-precision artillery shells. At the same time, the defeat of a target — even a moving one — is achieved from the first shot. The device with a take-off weight of up to 40 kg, capable of spending up to eight hours in the sky, is demonstrated in an open area next to Russian aviation equipment.

Drone detection and suppression systems.
Source: Georgy Sultanov/ TASS

Russia offers not only drones, but also ways to combat them. One of the means of countering enemy drones is an automated complex of several components. Portable small-sized radar station (radar) 1L122-1E detects UAVs, and the information is transmitted to the tablet of the commander of the anti-drone unit. Fighters armed with portable anti-aircraft missile systems, hand-held electronic jamming devices or other weapons receive tips on where to find a target, both by voice through communication means and in the form of a picture on the microdisplay of protective glasses. The holding company "Roselectronics" (part of Rostec) notes that the product has confirmed the characteristics and high efficiency in combat use.

The quality mark of Russian weapons

The portfolio of contracts concluded within the framework of Russia's military-technical cooperation with foreign partners exceeded $50 billion. This was stated to journalists by the head of Rosoboronexport, Alexander Mikheev. "We will increase it, because today there are more requests than our industry has the capacity to produce," he added, noting that priority is given to the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation and the implementation of the state defense order.

On the sidelines of the Dubai Airshow 2023, the head of the special exporter clarified to TASS that slightly less than half of the total amount are contracts for the supply of aviation equipment. Combat and military transport aircraft, as well as aircraft engines, were ordered by 14 countries, combat helicopters by 18 states.

Mikheev, in an interview with TASS, said that in 2023 alone, more than $4.5 billion worth of contract documents were signed with African countries, noting that they are important and reliable partners for Rosoboronexport. By the end of the year, the company plans to reach new agreements with African customers.

The head of the Federal Customs Service and the CEO of Rosoboronexport told TASS at the air show that relations with India — Russia's long-standing and reliable partner in military—technical cooperation - continue to develop successfully. Thus, the first batch of AK-203 submachine guns, produced at a joint Russian-Indian enterprise in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, is currently being tested . It is also planned to produce Russian Igla-S portable anti-aircraft missile systems in India. The contract for the supply and organization of licensed production has already been signed . In addition, Russia will take part in a tender for the supply of a light tank and 2.6 thousand promising infantry fighting vehicles to the Ministry of Defense of the Republic. The Indian side received proposals for the supply of additional sets of equipment for the licensed production of multifunctional Su-30MKI fighters. The country is armed with about 270 aircraft of this type, and, according to available information, the republic plans to purchase a new batch of components for assembly.

"For our country, which produces and sells military products under the most powerful sanctions pressure of the collective West on Russia, the Dubai forum is one of the key foreign platforms for promoting Russian aviation and military equipment, primarily to the countries of the Middle East, Asia and Africa," Alexander Mikhailov shared his opinion with TASS The head of the Bureau of Military-Political Analysis, noting that American, British, European and Australian guests most often turn to Rosoboronexport specialists and translators for explanations, in addition to Arab colleagues.

"Apparently, delegates from the countries of the collective West clearly understand what weapons they may have to deal with in the near future, and these weapons are of Russian origin," the expert expressed his opinion.

"It is impossible to throw the Russian Federation out of any markets. It's all a myth. And even more so from the arms market," Dmitry Shugaev, the head of the FSMTC, said during the exhibition, answering journalists' questions. In his opinion, Russia is at least the second world exporter of arms and military equipment. "Many types of equipment have proven their effectiveness in real combat conditions. This is really a sign of the quality inherent in our aviation technology, including helicopter and fighter aircraft," he added.

Viktor Bodrov, Georgy Sultanov