Russia at Dubai Airshow 2023: a show that was not ordered
Hero of the special operation Ka-52 in “export” version in Dubai. Can we afford it? Photo – Mikhail Zherdev
Irrational arguments
Timati and Leps warming up the audience at the elite hotel The Theater Dubai, elite alcohol, food and everything else typical of Russian parties in the United Arab Emirates.
Probably pictures of the future or flashbacks from the past?
No, modernity is foreplay before the Dubai Airshow 2023. However, it will not end all week from November 13th. In the second year of a difficult special operation in Ukraine, the Russian delegation participates in an international air show. One of the most inexplicable events of recent times.
Since February last year, Russia has been conducting a continuous and all-out advertising campaign for its own aviation industry. Combat first aviation. During the specified period of time, it is Russian pilots and equipment that are the most professional and combat-ready. Simply because they have been fighting an uphill battle for the last twenty-one months. No one in the world now has such experience and, most likely, will not have it for a long time. The Dubai Airshow 2023 exhibition agenda revolves around this.
Il-76MD-90A in Dubai. It's the right time and place for him. Photo – Mikhail Zherdev
Let's try to approach stories with Dubai Airshow 2023 rationally. Why is the Russian delegation and equipment there now? Obviously, to sell equipment. Denis Manturov described the events as follows:
“We brought exactly what our potential consumers and those people who simply wanted to see live those samples that will participate in the flight program are interested in.”
A total of 250 samples of civilian and military equipment will be demonstrated in Dubai.
The first of its kind Il-76MD-90A flew to the exhibition from Ulyanovsk, the light multi-purpose Ansat helicopter, the rescue Ka-32A11M, the “offshore” Mi-171A3 and the special operation star Ka-52E were brought, obviously in the highest possible configuration. On the attack helicopter one can see the President-S airborne defense system, the Khrizantema-VM ATGM, Igla-S missiles and one unit of the S-8 NAR.
Or, for example, a set of life support and self-defense equipment for a pilot. Created, obviously, based on the experience of the Northern Military District. A cautious guess - perhaps the Air Force re-equipped and re-equipped all its pilots before Rostec brought it to Dubai? We really hope this is so.
From the offered assortment, foreign customers will buy a little more than nothing. If only at a large discount and on credit, which Russia will forgive later. We are talking about African countries that are always ready, for old times’ sake, to receive something free from Moscow. But you don’t need air shows for this, especially such expensive ones.
How much did the Russian exposition cost?
There is no desire to repeat the old mantra “it would be better if they gave it to pensioners,” but now it’s right on point, only we’re not talking about pensioners at all. “Russian Knights” will also perform in Dubai on the brilliant Su-35S and Su-30SM. Aces roam the skies of the UAE, but should work in a completely different place.
Presentation of the Viking air defense system. It is not yet clear whether it is a large-scale model or a real installation, but the fact is depressing. Is the country now really ready to export air defense systems? Or Izdeliye 305E missiles? If yes, then we live with Rosoboronexport in different worlds.
"Ansat", Mi-171A3 and Ka-32A11M. Photo – Mikhail Zherdev
The stand with air-to-air missiles RVV-MD2 (close combat) and RVV-BD (long-range combat), as well as the Kh-69 cruise missile, looks tempting. And where would we be without the Su-57, or more precisely, its export modification with the letter E. In the press release for the aircraft you can find the following:
“The Su-57E is the only fifth-generation fighter that is capable of carrying large-sized, long-range air-to-surface weapons in a stealth configuration.”
All that remains is to calculate how many Su-57s are currently working in special operations. A seditious thought was born. What if Western opponents suddenly realize the futility of sanctions against Russia and decide to approach it from a different angle? They will flood our defense industry with export orders through third parties.
What will managers do who are now spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on weapons exposure? Will they push back government orders and focus on import orders?
It seems that opponents have already guessed - the general director of the Rosoboronexport concern, Alexander Mikheev, announced fifty proposals for Dubai Airshow 2023. Let's agree and sign contracts! We’ll just load Ulyanovsk with import orders for the next fifty years. In this regard, the phrase of the head of Dagestan Sergei Melikov sounds very accurate:
“At first I was funny, and then I became scared.”
The context of the comment was somewhat different, but also related to aviation - a participant in the recent riots at the Makhachkala airport looked into the aircraft engine, trying to spot a Jew.
But there is also civilian equipment, as the attentive reader will clarify. Of course, there is, but it doesn’t fly, or rather, passengers are not yet allowed to fly on it. MS-21 is far from a series, no matter how you advertise it at exhibitions.
The imported SJ-100 NEW, which was about to take off with domestic PD-8 aircraft engines, will take off only in 2024. It’s good if this happens in the first ten days.
Are they trying to sell this at the Dubai Airshow 2023? The planes themselves did not arrive at the exhibition, but mock-ups on stands or images in press releases are available to everyone.
Dear Arabian sky
The aviation part of the parade on Red Square has been cancelled, the MAKS 2023 air show has been postponed until better times. Aviation managers decided to pour out everything that has not been implemented recently in Dubai - they say, in addition to the Russian Knights, there will even be demonstration flights of the Ka-52E.
Gentlemen, why are we worse?
Why does a Russian who is proud of his country have to fly to the UAE to witness the domestic triumph of thought and technology?
It’s a stretch to call Dubai regulars with Russian passports patriots. I’m exaggerating, of course, but it’s everything for them, and nothing for us.
No one denies security considerations when holding MAKS. In the Moscow region it is really difficult to protect the sky from Ukrainian terrorists - the international air show is too tempting a target. But our country is not small and there are enough airfields like Zhukovsky.
The Fighterbomber telegram channel publishes this flight equipment from Rostec in Dubai. Are we waiting in the Russian Air Force?
Now a considerable part of experts say that Dubai Airshow 2023 is more of an image story for Russia. They say they weren’t allowed into Farnborough, Le Bourget, or the German ILA in 2022. At least in Dubai we will remind you of ourselves.
But the special operation reminds the whole world every day of Russian technology and Russian pilots. People who are truly interested in the domestic aviation industry do not take their eyes off the monitors with reports from the front. And they will definitely buy our equipment only after a special operation. The ceremonial and festive air show is superfluous here.
The letter E on the products of the Russian military-industrial complex cannot now be explained other than as mockery. Even preparing an exhibition and prototyping products with an eye to export is a waste of time and effort for engineers who should be working at the front. Not to mention attempts to sell high-tech equipment abroad.
Dubai Airshow 2023 is not the only example. With the same success, our gunsmiths went to IDEX 2023 in Abu Dhabi in February. Analogies and questions are asked for themselves - how much do we remember the T-34 or IS-2 in export version before 1945?
A little consolation at the end.
There is a healthy grain in demonstrating technology at weapons exhibitions.
First, respect partners from the Middle East. The UAE was invited, and it was very undiplomatic to refuse. There are not many platforms now where people are allowed and invited.
Secondly, being present at gun shows still creates a feeling among friends and foes that we have everything under control. They say we can afford to go to the fair.
How valid such arguments are, time will tell.
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