The recent HeliRussia exhibition was held on 20-22 May 2021 in Moscow. The show is among the very few international events being held despite the COVID epidemics. Apart from being a usual meeting point for the rotorcraft industry, HeliRussia-2021 gave a real chance to receive a fresh portion of information on the Russian defense export from the very first hands.
On the first day of the show Alexander Mikheev (photo), Rosoboronexport CEO disclosed several figures on the state defense mediator activities.
According to him, over the last 10 years alone, Rosoboronexport has offered and successfully delivered over 850 helicopters worth about $20 billion to more than 35 countries. He also mentioned the total volume of Rosoboronexport current portfolio is $ 52.1 billion.
The national state exporter has already supplied to customers about 23% of the total volume of weapons being scheduled to this year’s plan. “Everything is going according to plan. We carry out shipments and receive payments,” claimed Mr. Mikheev. He stated that in 2020 Rosoboronexport sold military products worth about $ 13 billion. In addition, Rosoboronexport has already signed contracts for $ 4 billion in 2021.
The company’s booth at HeliRussia 2021 presented the most popular export models of the Russian-made military and dual-purpose helicopters. One of them is Mi-17V5 military-transport rotorcraft. According to Mr. Mikheev, more than 270 vehicles of this type have been delivered through the last decade.
Other displays by Rosoboronexport included an upgraded version of the Ka-52 attack helicopter, Mi-28NE new generation attack helicopter with round-the-clock capabilities, Mi-35M and Mi-35P gun-ships, Mi-171SH Special Forces support helicopter and the new Mi-38T medium assault/transport helicopter.
Mr. Mikheev didn’t limit his talk just to the rotorcraft industry products. He stated that “the first deliveries of S-400 Triumph anti-aircraft missile systems to India will take place in October-December this year”. He added that the Indian personnel training is going on schedule.
According to Mr. Mikheev, Rosoboronexport promotes Russian military drones for export only after they are adopted by the Russian army. “We are awaiting the results of state tests, the introduction of aircraft into service and will continue to offer them to the market. We are waiting for unmanned aerial vehicles with payloads in the form of reconnaissance, surveillance and aircraft weapons," concluded Mr. Mikheev. At the moment the company successfully exports the Orion and Orlan drones.
He also mentioned that Russia’s anti-terrorist operation in Syria helps a lot in the national defense equipment promotion to the world market.
