The 9th International Maritime Defense Show (IMDS) was held at the Lenexpo Exhibition Center in St. Petersburg, Russia, on 10-14 July.

The show enjoyed full support from the Russian state structures as well as the Government of St.-Petersburg and Rosoboronexport arms exporter.

Over 350 enterprises including 28 international companies from 29 nations took part in the event.

 One of the key expositions was presented by the AK Bars Holding, located in the Russia’s Republic of Tatarstan, with Zelenodolsk-based Design Bureau and Gorky Shipyard as the main assets. The Chiefs of Navies of UAE and KSA paid special attention to AK Bars Holding pavilion with numerous vessels and boats being presented by the Holding CEO Renat Mistakhov.

 One of the Naval show highlights was the latest Serpukhov small missile ship of the project 21631. The vessel has been designed by the Zelenodolsk Bureau and built at the neighboring Gorky Shipyard.

 The ship has 949 t displacement, 25 knots speed and operational range up to 1500 nautic miles. The ship’s main weaponry is 8 missiles of the Kalibr-class, as well as A-190 100-mm artillery unit. Air defense protection is managed by 2x4 Gibka launchers with Igla-type missiles and Duet artillery turret with 2 AK-630 six-barrel 30-mm guns. Close defense employs 2 x14,5-mm and 3 x 7,62-mm machine guns.

 Serpukhov small missile ship together with Zelenyi Dol sister ship successfully participated in anti-terror operation in Syria.

 The UAE and Saudi Arabia Navy Commanders as well as high ranking delegations from Nigeria, Thailand and Vietnam displayed special interest to AK Bars products including frigate Gepard-3.9, the Project 21631 small missile ship, the Project 21980 special-purpose boat and the Project 22160 patrol vessel, according to the AK Bars Holding representative.