Russian new products at the World Defense Show 2024
On February 4, the international military-technical exhibition World Defense Show 2024 opened in the capital of Saudi Arabia. The Russian defense industry again became one of the main participants in this event. A large number of different types of weapons and equipment of different classes are presented at the stands of our enterprises and in open areas. Moreover, some of them are being shown at a foreign exhibition for the first time and should attract the attention of potential buyers.
Event scale
The international exhibition World Defense Show in Riyadh is being held for the second time and is gradually gaining in defense. This year, hundreds of organizations from dozens of countries are presenting their military and dual-use products. In fact, all the major military-industrial powers of the world are represented.
The Russian delegation occupies a prominent place at the exhibition. The exhibition in Saudi Arabia has great prospects as a platform for displaying modern developments, and our industry is taking appropriate measures. Compared to the previous World Defense Show 2022, the Russian exposition has almost doubled.
Russian technology in an open area
More than 20 organizations represent our country at the Arabian exhibition. Stands Stands and expositions are organized by large structures, such as Rostec or United Aircraft Corporation, as well as organizations from them and independent enterprises. At the same time, almost all sectors and areas of the defense industry are represented.
The Russian exposition includes approx. 650 different types of weapons and military equipment. More than a hundred mock-ups and full-scale samples are presented at Rostec’s stands alone. For obvious reasons, all such exhibits are shown in export form. A significant part of the presented products is well known to foreign specialists and the military. Some samples are being shown for the first time at an overseas exhibition and are expected to attract the necessary attention.
Aerospace
The largest Russian-made exhibit at the World Defense Show 2024 was the Il-76MD-90A(E) military transport aircraft in export version. It was first shown abroad in November last year, at an exhibition in the UAE. Now the aircraft is being shown again to potential customers. In addition, the official presentation of this sample took place on February 5.
The entire current line of combat aircraft and helicopters offered for export is presented in the form of mock-ups. At the same time, the advertising of the main samples mentions their successful combat use during the current Special Operation. In addition, the UAC is again exhibiting the Su-75 export fighter. The exhibition also widely presents modern aviation means of destruction, incl. latest models.
Il-76MD-90A(E)
For the first time, Roscosmos is participating in the World Defense Show. His stand presented models of rocket and space technology and information about it. In addition, the modern Sokol-KV-2 spacesuit, used by astronauts during takeoff, landing and docking of spacecraft, is on display.
New air defense products
All major modern air defense systems of Russian design, available to foreign buyers, are demonstrated in Riyadh. The bulk of such samples have already been present at domestic and foreign exhibitions, but there were some interesting new products.
NPO "High-Precision Complexes" again presents the Pantsir series air defense missile system, including the latest modification "SM" / "S1M". Models of missiles are shown along with models of combat vehicles. For the first time at a foreign event, a promising light missile for combating UAVs, as well as a four-seat transport and launch container for it, will be present. The index and characteristics of such a product have not yet been specified, but you can already study its appearance and main design features.
In the context of air defense, attention is also paid to specialized means of combating UAVs. Thus, the Vector Research Institute from Ruselectronics brought the Serp-VS6 system to Saudi Arabia for the first time. This is a stationary device capable of detecting and jamming radio channels used by unmanned aircraft systems. The possibility of suppressing UAVs of any class is declared, incl. developing high speed.
Missiles for Pantsir. Far right - new small-sized ammunition against UAVs and TPK for it
Land premieres
Russian Tanks, infantry fighting vehicles and other equipment are well known to foreign customers and are popular in the market. Russian industry is developing existing successes and showing new examples. How successful such a premiere will be will become known in the future.
For the first time, the promising armored vehicle ZA-SpN “Titan” was shown at a foreign exhibition. This is a MRAP-class vehicle capable of transporting soldiers and protecting them from enemy fire and explosive devices. To support a dismounted landing there is a remote-controlled combat module. The Spartak armored car is presented in the same class. It has similar characteristics and capabilities, but the technical problems posed were solved in other ways.
The exhibition of the Steel Research Institute is of great interest to specialists and the armies of the world. It presents the latest developments in the field of additional protection for armored vehicles, created taking into account the experience of operating and using combat vehicles as part of the Special Operations.
Surface fleet
Part of the Russian exposition is devoted to the development of the naval fleet. Already known and new models of equipment that can be built for foreign customers are presented. At the same time, a very interesting premiere takes place.
Armored car "Spartak"
"United Shipbuilding Corporation" for the first time showed a variant of deep modernization of the corvette pr. 20382 "Tiger". A basic version of such a project was developed several years ago and regularly appeared at exhibitions. Now it has been redesigned to improve combat and technical characteristics.
The modernized Tiger differs in the design of its hull and superstructure. The latter was redesigned to accommodate several Zaslon radar antennas with all-round visibility. In this regard, the helicopter hangar was moved from the aft part of the superstructure to the inside of the hull. There are also other notable design changes.
Results and plans
During the World Defense Show 2024, interesting information was revealed about the military-technical cooperation of the Russian industry with third countries. Rosoboronexport reports that the total value of its existing order book has reached $55 billion, a record value since 2000. Interestingly, up to half of the orders in the current book come from Arab countries.
Updated appearance of the corvette pr. 20382
Last year, Rosoboronexport received orders totaling $12 billion. In addition, contracts with 30 countries were completed during the year. Deliveries of ordered products are carried out, and training of foreign specialists is also carried out. Thus, in 2023, more than 500 foreigners took courses on the operation and use of Russian products.
Rosoboronexport and other organizations continue to search for foreign buyers, and the main method of this remains participation in exhibitions, both in Russia and in other countries. Last year, 16 exhibition campaigns were held. In total, the customer was shown more than 800 samples and developments. 250 delegations from customer countries were received through military-technical cooperation.
Work continues
Thus, the Russian defense industry maintains its place in the international arms and equipment market. The creation of new samples continues, as well as advertising campaigns and the search for potential buyers. In general, all such processes are going well, and the industry has a record portfolio of orders.
It should be expected that the current World Defense Show 2024 in Saudi Arabia will again help in finding buyers. Based on its results, certain negotiations may begin, which will result in new profitable contracts. Time will tell what products and in what quantities foreign armies will order.
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