Russian Aircraft Industry at Airshow China 2006

, Airshow China 2006, justly considered one of the largest international air shows staged in Asia, will be held in Zhuhai, the Guangdong Province, China, from 31 October until 5 November 2006. 
 
The air show is sponsored by the Chinese State Commission of Science, Technology, and Industry for National Defence, the Civil Aviation Authority of China (CAAC), the Aviation Industries of China (AVIC), and a number of other state departments and establishments. The Zhuhai Special Economic Zone administration is the host of the air show. 
 
Airshow China 2006 has generated much interest among many arms and materiel manufacturers and customers. According to sponsors of the air show, this year it will see participation of over 320 Chinese and foreign enterprises and companies. 
 
Russia is a traditional participant in Airshow China. During the “Year of Russia in China” the number of Russian participants in the show (in excess of 50 companies) and the exhibition area (1,500 sq. m) are the greatest in the history of Russia's participation in Airshow China. 
 
The Russian exhibition, displayed by the Rosoboronexport Corporation, is based on the latest developments in the international aircraft market. It aims to demonstrate outstanding scientific and production capabilities of the national aircraft industry. The Russian exposition, covering about 1,500 sq. m, will display the entire range of contemporary Russian aircraft, helicopters, aircraft armament, air defence systems, and dual-purpose and civil products and services as full-scale systems, mock-ups, models, posters, and advertising aids. 
 
Russia will display Su-family export versions, including the Su-35 super-manoeuvrable multi-role fighter, the Su-27SK and the Su-30MK multi-role fighters, the Su-39 multi-role attack aircraft, the Su-33 shipborne fighter, the upgraded Su-39 attack aircraft, and the Su-32 fighter/bomber. 
 
The Sukhoi Aircraft Holding Company will exhibit the new Su-27SK multi-role single-seat fighter, the upgraded Su-27SKM, boasting flight characteristics comparable to those of a 4+ generation aircraft. The new aircraft is capable of destroying the whole scope of air-, ground-, and sea-based targets with precision guided munitions (PGM). The highly manoeuvrable aircraft may carry a wide range of guided and unguided weapon systems. 
 
The world-wide famous Russian Knights aerobatics team and aces from the Gromov Flight Test Centre will demonstrate unique flight characteristics of Su-family aircraft over Zhuhai. Visitors of the show will be able to examine a mock-up of the Su-35 fighter cockpit. 
 
MiG type aircraft are represented at Airshow China 2006 by the unique MiG-29M lightweight tactical fighter with thrust vector control, MiG-29SMT advanced upgrade, MiG-29K shipborne combat aircraft, MiG-29SE front-line fighter, MiG-31 interceptor, shipborne MiG-29KUB combat trainer, as well as MiG-AT dedicated trainer. 
 
Airshow China 2006 visitors will also be able to see high performance of the Yak-130 combat trainer, the Il-76MF medium-to-long-range military air transport, and the Pchela-1 unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). 
 
UN-led peacekeeping operations and armed conflicts in alpine and desert terrain in Asia and Africa have proved the special role of rotary-wing aircraft, including attack and utility helicopters. Thus, the Russian exposition places a special emphasis on the following export modifications of Mil- and Kamov-family helicopters: the Mi-28NE, the Ka-50, and the Ka-50-2 attack helicopters, the Ka-60 utility helicopter, the Mi-35, the Mi-35P, and the Mi-35M combat transports, the Mi-17-1B troop carrier, the Mi-171Sh air transport, the Mi-26 heavy transport, the Ka-29 shipborne combat transport, and the Ka-31 airborne early warning helicopter. 
 
The Mi-26 heavy transport is sure to stir up interest among experts and visitors of the show. It is designed to airlift troops, combat vehicles, and cargo with an overall weight of up to 20 tons. The troop carrier modification is capable of airlifting up to 82 paratroopers. At the present time the Mi-26 successfully operates in many foreign states. 
 
The Mi-35M combat transport, promoted by Rosoboronexport jointly with the Rostvertol Company, is a deep modernisation of the famous Mi-35 combat transport. The Mi-35M, fitted with cutting-edge avionics, a precise navigation system, and night vision systems, enjoys significantly improved combat capabilities and can operate by day and night in any weather. 
 
Rosoboronexport will also demonstrate a wide range of air defence systems from Igla man-portable air defence systems (MANPADS) up to the S-300 long-range systems. Participants in the show will be able to examine characteristics of the S-300 PMU2 Favorit air defence system, capable of destroying theatre ballistic missiles with a range of up to 1,000 km. They will also stand a chance of familiarising themselves with such medium- and short-range air defence systems as the Tor-M1, the Pechora-2M, the Tunguska-M1, the Osa-AKM. 
 
The corporation will display a wide scope of other Russian defence products including turbojet and turboshaft engines for combat fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft, state-of-the-art air-to-air missiles, aircraft radars, sights, avionics, ground-based avionics laboratory test means, and aircraft flight data recording, processing, and analysis systems. 
 
The Rosoboronexport Corporation is certain that Russia's participation in Airshow China 2006 will boost Russia's defence co-operation with China and other Asian states.