The Egypt International Airshow 2024 International Aviation and Space Salon is taking place at the airport of the city of El Alamein, on the Mediterranean coast, 270 km from the capital of the country. The event is taking place for the first time. According to the Egyptian State Information Service, representatives of more than 100 countries and over 300 aerospace enterprises are taking part in the air show, and on the first day of its work, President of the Arab Republic of Egypt Abdel Fattah al-Sisi visited it.
Rosoboronexport gratefully accepted the invitation of the Egyptian side to participate in the Egypt International Airshow," the special exporter quotes the words of Director General Alexander Mikheev. — Our presence here will serve to strengthen military-technical cooperation between Russia and Egypt, as well as further develop relations with countries in Africa and the Middle East, whose combined share in the company's order portfolio is more than 50%. I am sure that the salon has a great future, and we are ready to become its permanent participant."
The products are assembled at the stands of a single exposition, in which, in addition to Rosoboronexport, the United Aircraft Corporation (UAC), the United Engine Corporation (UEC), the National Aviation Service Company engaged in comprehensive maintenance of military aviation equipment, which are members of Rostec, participate. The means of creating layered air defense are presented: Viking, Tor-M2E anti-aircraft missile systems, Pantsir-S1M missile and cannon complex with the latest small-sized TKB-1055 short-range interception missile. Russian air defense systems have proven their effectiveness by using them in a special military operation, intercepting a wide range of aerial targets — from enemy aircraft and helicopters to miniature drones, missiles and gliding ammunition. The portable anti-aircraft missile system "Verba" is demonstrated, the homing head of the missile of which "sees" at once in three ranges: ultraviolet, near and middle infrared. Thanks to this, the Willow shoots down even "cold" targets — cruise missiles, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). At the same time, the Russian missile is able to ignore interference from the enemy.
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| A mock-up of the Pantsir-S1M missile and cannon complex. |
| Source: Rosoboronexport |
Next door is a full-size mock-up of the latest multifunctional unobtrusive high-precision cruise missile X-69. A product developed by the A.Ya. Bereznyak State Machine-Building Design Bureau Raduga (part of the Tactical Missile Armament Corporation) It can enter the range of weapons of the Su-57E, a fifth—generation Russian fighter.
At a separate static outdoor exhibition, guests of the new air show can get acquainted with full-scale samples of the Ka-52 combat reconnaissance and attack helicopter, the Product 305E multipurpose guided missile, Orlan-10E and Orlan-30 UAVs. Russian helicopters are successfully burning enemy armored vehicles, including Western models, in the special operation zone. Drones are conducting reconnaissance and correcting artillery fire. Orlan-30 is equipped with an optoelectronic station to illuminate targets that are hit by high-precision artillery shells with laser guidance.
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| RB-504P-E UAV counteraction kit. |
| Source: Rosoboronexport |
Also, UAV detection and counteraction tools are demonstrated in the open area — for example, the RB-504P-E kit, capable of automatically detecting and suppressing flying drones. The RB-504P-E can withstand a swarm of drones, and several devices can be combined into an entire network.
Roscosmos State Corporation has presented in Egypt a scaled-down mock-up of the Berkut-BP small spacecraft. The development will form the basis of a series of Earth remote sensing satellites of the promising multi-satellite grouping "Sphere". Berkut-BP was created by the S.A. Lavochkin Scientific and Production Association (NPO Lavochkin), part of the state corporation. In addition, Roscosmos showed a mock-up of the Fregat-SB upper stage. The unit, designed to launch a cluster of satellites into various orbits, is one of the most reliable in the world. Since the beginning of the century, the Fregat family of upper stages has launched over 850 spacecraft into orbit.
Military-technical cooperation continues to develop
Rosoboronexport noted that within the framework of the Egypt International Airshow 2024 business program, meetings are planned with representatives of the military and political leadership of Middle Eastern, Asian and African states, at which it is expected to discuss issues of military-technical cooperation.
Despite unprecedented Western sanctions, Russia is increasing the production of new weapons and offering them at international exhibitions. For example, at another airshow — Dubai Airshow 2023 — the country owned one of the largest exhibits: the Il-76MD-90A(E) heavy transport aircraft with a wingspan of more than 50 m. The Russian Knights aerobatic team on supermaneuverable multifunctional Su-35S fighters showed the most complex figures in the Dubai sky, the Ka-52 helicopter flashed its flight capabilities, and several civilian rotorcraft were demonstrated on static display. At the end of last year, Russia took part in the Egypt Defense Expo (EDEX) 2023, the largest defense exhibition on the African continent. Russian defense manufacturers were also widely represented at the World Defense Show 2024 in the capital of Saudi Arabia in February this year.
Many samples have been tested by a special operation, therefore they arouse increased interest among potential foreign customers. In particular, potential buyers admire Russian air defense systems. "We often hear from foreign partners, including from Middle Eastern countries, enthusiastic reviews of the video materials of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation with footage of the combat work of the "Shells" in the zone of a special military operation," Alexander Mikheev told TASS on the sidelines of the exhibition in Riyadh. "The partners were particularly impressed by the one hundred percent destruction of rockets fired in one salvo from modern MLRS of Western manufacturers."
In addition to arms sales, the Russian Federation is ready to develop industrial partnership with friendly countries. For example, Russia offers to produce "Shells", whose combat work has delighted foreign specialists, on the territory of the customer, having localized their release. During the UMEX 2024 international exhibition and conference of unmanned systems, held in Abu Dhabi in January this year, Rosoboronexport proposed to localize the production of Russian drones and carry out their maintenance abroad.
In early September of this year, it became known that the Indian government approved the purchase of 240 aviation turbojet engines for the Su-30MKI multi-purpose fighters of the country's air force. High-tech products will consist of more than half of the parts produced in the Republic of India.
"We expect that Russia's large—scale participation in the Egypt International Airshow will open up new prospects in an important area of industrial partnership with countries in Africa and the Middle East," Rosoboronexport's press service commented to TASS.
Victor Bodrov
