Russian defense companies will traditionally participate widely in one of the largest exhibitions of military equipment IDEX-2025, which will be held from February 17 to 21 in Abu Dhabi. They will present both completely new designs and deeply modernized weapons to foreign customers. All Russian equipment is adapted to the modern battlefield, taking into account the experience of its own. Bekhan Ozdoev, industrial director of the cluster of armaments, ammunition and special chemicals of Rostec State Corporation, in an interview with Denis Kayyran, special correspondent of RIA Novosti, on the eve of the exhibition, spoke about the best production tank in the world, a complex that can replace an air defense battery, innovations in the field of artillery, small arms and barrage ammunition.
– What is Rostec planning to surprise the world community with at the IDEX exhibition this year?
– Rostec will traditionally present top-of-the-line military equipment created according to the most modern requirements at IDEX. Precision Complexes, Kalashnikov Concern, UVZ, and Shvabe brought their products to the UAE. These are almost 200 different products. As always, Rosoboronexport will act as the organizer of the unified Russian exposition abroad.
For the first time, we will show a number of full-scale samples abroad. This time, Rosoboronexport brought the upgraded Uralvagonzavod T-90MS Proryv export tank. This is the most modern version of the machine, modified based on the results of combat use. High-Precision Complexes will hold the premiere of the Pantsir-SMD-E anti-aircraft missile system, which can shoot down drones with mini-missiles. For the first time, Kalashnikov will show several new types of small arms and another air defense system.
Our delegation has extensive work planned: business meetings and substantive negotiations. I am sure that several Russian designs will be of interest to our Middle Eastern partners and beyond, and the exhibition will be productive for us.
– How can you assess Russia's current position on the arms market?
– We maintain our positions despite the sanctions. Russia's export order portfolio has not declined in recent years, but has reached record levels. At the end of 2024, it exceeded 57 billion dollars.
The great interest of foreign customers is understandable. Russian military products have been repeatedly tested in combat and have shown their advantages. In addition, today we can talk about new criteria for assessing competitiveness in the global arms market. If earlier we were talking about "price-quality-efficiency", now this triad should be expanded to "price-quality-efficiency-adaptability of technologies".
I mean, we have built an effective feedback system. We collect data directly in combat, our specialists work in the free defense zone, receive feedback from military personnel, and work with military scientific institutes. As a result, our developers have an unprecedented amount of information about the real experience of using our weapons in combat. This allows us to quickly transform and scale technologies. As a Lego designer, we adapt weapons to meet current needs. This is the "adaptability of military technology."
– What are the examples of such adaptability?
– A good example is the Kornet–E guided anti-tank missile, which has become a universal weapon on the battlefield, replacing field artillery in many episodes. Such missiles destroy armored vehicles, enemy fortifications, observation posts, buildings where the enemy has taken refuge, concentrations of manpower, communication towers. At the same time, the Kornet is now a two–medium missile - the same missile, with some changes, has become an X-UAV air munition. It is used on attack drones and has also shown high efficiency and versatility.
But that's not all: the Bulat complex has been created on the basis of the Cornet. In fact, this is a lightweight version of the Cornet. By the way, we are also showing it for the first time in Abu Dhabi.
In parallel, all variants of the Cornet continue to be improved. For example, in the guidance methods. The accuracy of the missile is excellent today – it easily flies into the embrasure of the enemy's firing point. We receive positive feedback from the military.
The Cornet also received a remote control. Now his crew can fire from cover tens of meters away from the complex. We are also presenting the remote control for the first time at IDEX. It is made on a domestic component base and meets high standards of reliability and ergonomics. In other words, as a result, a successful solution has been effectively transformed into three different types of weapons, and I think this is not the limit.
Another example is the new Hyacinth–K wheeled cannon, which was designed as soon as possible based on the results of the combat use of the Malva artillery systems. Rostec developers have combined the Malva's wheelbase with another version of the cannon. This solution makes it possible to significantly increase the fleet of wheeled artillery.
Another system that falls under the criterion of adaptability is the Krona–E air defense system from Kalashnikov. We are also demonstrating it for the first time at IDEX-2025. This is a combination of the already proven 9M340 and 9M333 anti-aircraft guided missiles, as well as detection and control equipment in one combat module. As a result, we have gained new quality and efficiency. The complex is universal – it can be stationary and mounted on a wheeled chassis.
– What's new in the T-90MS, which will be shown at the exhibition?
– The T-90MS tank that Rosoboronexport brought to the exhibition is not the same car that we once showed at IDEX-2015. This is an export version of the tank that has passed its crucible. It has corresponding improvements in all systems. We have not shown this version abroad yet. In particular, the tank received an updated multi-level protection against RPGs, anti-tank guided missiles and ubiquitous FPV drones. The vehicle is equipped with state-of-the-art fire control systems, sights, interfaces and a wide range of ammunition. It has outstanding firepower.
I would like to draw your attention to the fact that our tanks show amazing survivability in battle due to their new protection. They can get a lot of hits and continue to complete the task. Foreign armored vehicles in service with the Armed Forces of Ukraine, as a rule, fail with one or two FPV drones, which we have seen more than once.
Russian tanks also have a unique maintainability. There are many cases when cars were quickly restored after damage and returned to service two or three times, and I think this is not the limit. At the same time, there is no loss of fighting qualities.
Without false modesty, we can say that the T-90MS is today the best production tank in the world and Rosoboronexport's best offer for foreign partners in its niche. And this is a fact based on real combat operations.
– What other armored vehicles will Rostec present at IDEX-2025?
– Let's show a full-scale sample of the Berezhok combat module. The module is equipped with a 30 mm cannon, an automatic grenade launcher and a Kornet system. It is mounted on infantry fighting vehicles, and has also fully proven its effectiveness on its own. We expect that the module will be in demand from foreign operators – in the Middle East, infantry fighting vehicles are in the fleet of ground vehicles from many countries.
– Today, much attention is being paid to unmanned systems of various types, as well as, on the contrary, effective protection against drones. What is planned to be presented in these areas?
– Rostec has almost a complete set of technologies for unmanned systems. Our companies make a wide range of aerial drones, ground drones, and weapons for them. Kalashnikov, in particular, will for the first time show its new Kub-2-1E and Kub-2-2E barrage ammunition. It is needed to defeat targets on the front line and in tactical depth. The kamikaze drone is made according to the principle of "simple but functional": it can be produced in large quantities, while it is endowed with the qualities of a high-precision guided missile. The device is already being used in the SVO zone and successfully destroys enemy firing points, armored vehicles, and air defense systems.
As for protection from drones, this time the "High-precision complexes" present to the world community a full-scale sample of the latest Pantsir-SMD-E air defense system. Currently, there are simply no solutions of this level on the arms market. An absolute exclusive. The complex is capable of using a large number of mini-missiles to destroy drones. In fact, one such combat module replaces a battery of other anti-aircraft missile systems in the fight against UAVs. Just one complex can launch 48 mini-missiles at the enemy. Pantsir-SMD-E confirmed the stated characteristics during the tests.
– What new will Rostec show with small arms?
– Small arms are a field where our designs remain among the most in demand. Since the time of Mikhail Kalashnikov, Russian gunsmiths have set the bar high – automatic weapons should be accurate, reliable, convenient, technologically advanced, while easy to maintain and aesthetically pleasing. In terms of the totality of these indicators, no one has surpassed us yet, although foreign competitors are trying to copy our approach.
We couldn't come to the Middle East without shooting premieres, where our submachine guns and machine guns are especially appreciated. Therefore, Kalashnikov will present the RPL-7 belt-powered light machine gun for the first time at IDEX-2025. The weapon is chambered for 7.62 by 39 millimeters and has high reliability and accuracy, and can be retrofitted with attachments. At the same time, the designers of the concern paid great attention to the ergonomics and convenience of the machine gun. In particular, the RPL-7 is relatively small and very light compared to its classmates. Allows you to fire with both your left and right hand. If Rimbaud's character existed, he would envy such opportunities.
In addition, for the first time, Kalashnikov presents the latest versions of the AK-12 and AK-15 assault rifles – shortened and small-sized. This is an exemplary weapon for law enforcement agencies.
