Sell weapons: Russian systems are receiving attention at the IDEX-2025 exhibition

Domestic companies presented armored vehicles, helicopters, air defense systems and much more.

Presented at the IDEX-2025 arms exhibition, the T-90M tank with electronic warfare and protective structures, modified taking into account its experience, is capable of successfully resisting drone attacks. Thus, according to a representative of Uralvagonzavod, there have been cases of more than two dozen attacks on a tank performing a combat mission without critical damage to the vehicle. The exhibition in the United Arab Emirates is one of the world's largest forums where the latest technologies in the land, sea and air defense sectors are demonstrated. About the Russian exposition and new weapons systems — in the material of Izvestia.

In the zone of increased attention

The latest developments in the field of weapons and military equipment are being demonstrated in Abu Dhabi. The halls house expositions of companies from all over the world developing weapons, radio electronics, tracking systems, robots, ammunition, medical care and training simulators. There are also outdoor areas for the demonstration of military equipment and military vehicles.

Russia presented about 200 weapons systems and military products at the exhibition. And all of them enjoy the increased attention of the guests of the exhibition.

Photo: TASS/Anastasia Savinykh

Image source: iz.ru

The President of the United Arab Emirates, Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, was one of the first to get acquainted with the Uralvagonzavod T-90M tank. First Deputy Prime Minister of Russia Denis Manturov spoke to reporters against the background of this armored vehicle.

— Within the framework of its, there is an active use and refinement of equipment, which is in demand today, including in the foreign markets of our partners. Today, drones on optical cable are also actively used," he said.

The Russian military-industrial complex (MIC) has reached a production scale that ensures the interests of the Russian Defense Ministry and at the same time implements and concludes new export contracts for the supply of weapons and military equipment, said Alexander Mikheev, Director General of Rosoboronexport.

IDEX has established itself as one of the main arms exhibitions in the world, military expert Vadim Kozyulin told Izvestia.

Photo: TASS/Anastasia Savinykh

Image Source: iz.ru

— It is attractive because political preferences and dependencies do not matter on it, — he noted. — Everyone is represented here. Today, participation in this exhibition is especially important for Russia, since we have lost our second place in arms exports — we have been replaced by France, and the United States has always been in the first place. It is the policy of the West to strangle our partners and investors. The US State Department regularly sends letters to our partners with indirect threats for continuing military-technical cooperation with Russia.

According to the expert, the UAE is a landmark place for businesses specializing in the arms trade.

"The Middle East is the most promising market for Russia today, where, like in Africa, we can achieve success,— he said. — More precisely, we are already doing it in Africa, displacing the same French. And the Middle East is a big, rich market where we are respected, and we have long—standing partners and friends here. For these reasons, this exhibition is very important for the Russian defense industry.

Protection for T-90M

Rosoboronexport (part of Rostec) presented the latest modification of the T-90M "Breakthrough" tank developed by Uralvagonzavod, which combines the most advanced technologies and new technical solutions. The principle of differentiated booking is implemented in the car — the tank received dynamic protection "Relict", lattice screens, and means of electronic counteraction to UAVs. It is protected from attack UAVs, FPV drones, ATGM and RPGs. The car also received the latest hardware.

Photo: TASS/Anastasia Savinykh

Image source: iz.ru

"At the moment, there is a continuous rivalry between the effectiveness of attack UAVs and anti—drone measures implemented on armored vehicles," Alexander Tarantin, a representative of the Uralvagonzavod concern, told Izvestia.

According to him, an individual set of electronic warfare and protective structures make it possible to protect tanks from UAVs with a positive result.

"There have been cases of more than two dozen attacks on a tank performing a combat mission without critical damage to the vehicle,— Alexander Tarantin emphasized.

Additional protection from UAVs reduces the risks of damage to the upper hemisphere of the tank from explosive devices dropped from the UAV and from kamikaze drones, he noted.

As military expert Yuri Lyamin explained to Izvestia, the main work on the refinement and modernization of armored vehicles is related to the appearance of UAVs.

— If at the beginning their tanks were equipped only with canopies to protect them from dropping shells from above and other things, then over time they began to be lined with "grilles" and REM and electronic warfare equipment installed on them to counter FPV drones. Other countries that are closely monitoring this conflict have also begun to create their own equipment, taking into account the threat from drones. In addition, the interaction of armored vehicles with drones, in particular tanks, has increased. For him, someone else's UAV is a threat, but his own is an additional overview," he noted.

Helicopters and the new Pantsir

Several unmanned strike systems are also being demonstrated. In addition to the already well-known export Lancet, Kalashnikov kamikaze UAVs are represented at the Russian exposition — these are Kub-CM, Kub-10E and Kub-2E.

The new Pantsir-SMD-E anti-aircraft missile system is also of particular interest.

Photo: RIA Novosti/Kirill Zykov

Image source: iz.ru

— A distinctive feature of this complex from the serial Pantsir is the absence of cannon armament and the presence of short-range anti-aircraft guided missiles. Their use may allow us to increase the ammunition supply of this complex to 48 units," a representative of the NGO High—Precision Complexes told Izvestia.

Russian Helicopters Holding Company presented several vehicles. The Ka-32A11M firefighting helicopter, the Ansat helicopter in the medical version, as well as the Mi-38 in the VIP version.

The Almaz-Antey concern of East Kazakhstan Region showed the C-300V4 Antey-4000 long-range anti-aircraft missile system to potential buyers. As well as the S-350E Vityaz and Viking complexes, the Tor-M2KM, and the Komar ship turret.

Foreigners are interested in stands with small arms, where new items are presented: the RPL-7 belt-powered light machine gun, shortened versions of the AK-12 and AK-15 Kalashnikov assault rifles, the PPK-20 submachine gun, ORSIS rifles. In addition, visitors can see the new Chukavin sniper rifle, a Russian weapon that is not deprived of public attention on the first day of the exhibition.

Bogdan Stepovoy

Andrey Fedorov