As the new Joe Biden administration in the United States is reviewing the defence relations with Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, the Russian firms are eyeing a bigger slice of the military procurement pie from these Middle East countries for their defence buys. 

Russia has lined up a bevy of defence equipment ranging from the latest air defence systems such as Antey-4000, Viking, and Tor-E2 to T-14 Armata battle tank, Su-35 fighter, KORD, and AK-19 assault rifles to Kupol-PRO counter-drone system at the IDEX 2021, which opened in Abu Dhabi today.

“The Middle East and North Africa are now among key customers in the arms market. This region accounts for about 1/3 of the total market volume. Arms with the “Made in Russia” trademark are well known and sought-after here. They have made a very good showing in adverse climatic conditions – on the sea, on the ground and in the air. Taking into account all the above mentioned, the region is very important for us. At year-end 2020, the MENA countries accounted for over 50 per cent of all export supplies through Rosoboronexport. In addition to the growth of exports and product mix, we have considerably expanded the geography of our cooperation in the region. In 2021, these positive trends will be continued in accordance with the objectives, set out for us by the country’s leadership,” said Director General of Rostec State Corporation Sergey Chemezov.

Rosoboronexport acts as the organiser of Russia’s joint display at IDEX 2021, which in total occupies more than 1200 square meters of the exhibition space in Hall 12. The joint display represent products of the leading holdings of the Rostec State Corporation, including JSC High Precision Weapons, Uralvagonzavod, Kalashnikov Group, Technodinamika, United Instrument Manufacturing Corporation, Shvabe Holding, and the largest Russia’s defence industry companies – Almaz-Antey Air and Space Defence Corporation, JSC Concern Morinformsystem-Agat, Research Production Association RusBiTech, Proekt-Technika Corporation, and the Kazan Gunpowder Plant.

Russia’s joint display is focused on the demonstration of technical assets and solutions, aimed at responding to present-day security threats and challenges, primarily in conditions of attack weapons development, including missiles of various ranges and strike UAVs. Rosoboronexport will introduce at IDEX 2021 its approaches and solutions, above all, in the area of countering terrorist groups and provision of security of vital state, infrastructure, transportation and energy installations.

“In Abu-Dhabi Rosoboronexport is demonstrating newly-designed products from its export catalogue, including the new armoured personnel carrier and infantry fighting vehicle on the basis of the Boomerang unified wheeled combat platform, air defence missile systems Antei-4000, Viking and Tor-E2, which is being done for the first time in this region. For the first time ever there are public presentations of tank T-14 Armata and new types of firearms of Russia’s production – assault rifles KORD, Lebedev pistol and the newest Kalashnikov assault rifle AK-19.  Also on display is a system, designed for countering unmanned aerial vehicles,” added Rostec’s Alexander Mikheev.

Rosoboronexport is displaying over 400 items of its military equipment nomenclature. Rosoboronexport’s display include mock-up models of aviation equipment, i.e. the Su-35 multi-role super maneuverable fighter and Mi-38T transportation and assault helicopter, which the company says may considerably increase combat capabilities of an aviation task force of any country in the Middle East or North Africa.

Air defence complexes S-400 Triumph and Tor-M2KM, as well as the Kupol-PRO anti-drone complex, which are popular in the Middle East market are also the highlight of the show.

In the segment of unmanned aviation, LLC STC is presenting information on the famous Russian unmanned complex Orlan-10E.

Russia at NAVDEX2021

The naval section display include presentations of the mock-up models of the patrol boat of project 22160 and the Karakurt-E small missile ship of project 22800E by the Ak Bars Shipbuilding Corporation.  

The V.A.Degtyaryov Plant, demonstrating the new KORD assault rifle of calibres 7.62 and 5.45 mm for the first time abroad, counts on increased public interest, as well as LLC KBIS with its long range sniper rifles of the Lobaev Arms trade mark – DVL-10M1 Saboteur, TSVL-8 Stalingrad, DXL-3 Longstrike and DXL-4 Sevastopol, which are already well known by the specialists. Rosoboronexport’s exhibit also accommodate mock-up models of armoured vehicles of the Typhoon and Tornado families.

“Rosoboronexport is having an extensive business programme here. There are planned meetings and negotiations with representatives of military and political leadership and business community of the Middle East and North African countries,” a company official informed.

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