Russian Defense Industries at the IDEX 2007 International Exhibition

, From 18 to 22 February 2007, the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Center in the capital of the United Arab Emirates, Abu Dhabi, will host the IDEX 2007 International Defense Exhibition & Conference. 
 
The defense show, being organized under the auspices of the UAE Government, Ministry of Defense and General Staff of the Armed Forces, will be held for the eighth time and is justly regarded as one of the world's top business platforms in the defense field and the biggest event in the Middle East. It invariably attracts increased attention from major arms manufacturers and buyers. According to the organizers, more than 70 military and civilian delegations and 900 companies from 50 countries have confirmed their intention to participate in the show. Traditionally, the exhibition will include live demonstrations of weaponry, including tracked and wheeled vehicles. 
 
Russia has been a regular IDEX participant since the first exhibition held in 1993. At this year's show, more than forty Russian exhibitors will be showcasing advances in the domestic defense industry. The combined Russian exposition totaling around 750 sq. m, organized by the Rosoboronexport State Corporation, will comprise more than 500 defense and dual-use export products in the form of full-scale samples, models, mockups, posters, and promotion materials tailored to meet the military and technological needs of the Gulf and Arabian Peninsula countries. It emphasizes weaponry repair and upgrade projects involving the state-of-the-art technological advances and latest trends in the global and regional arms markets. 
 
The Land Forces section is among the densest parts of the exposition. It includes both modern and upgraded armored vehicles, engineer equipment, missile and artillery armaments, weapons control systems, radar reconnaissance equipment, all-service and dedicated small arms, optics and electro-optics. 
 
Given that the UAE and Kuwait armies operate many earlier delivered Russian-made BMP-3 infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs), Rosoboronexport will display a BMP-3 upgrade program, whose implementation will enhance the operational effectiveness of the basic vehicle more than 1.5 times. The proposed list of improvements includes the installation of: the Shtora-1 self-defense system against precision-guided weapons, a new air conditioner set, an electronic assistant to the driver and the gunner (including also in Arabic) as well as an automatic gear shifter, an ATGM autoloader, the driver's rear view camera, an advanced fume extractor, and the Raduga-2 modern fire suppression system. According to experts, such upgrades will let the customers receive infantry fighting vehicles with better protection against various anti-tank weapons, improved running performance and enhanced ergonomics at optimal costs. 
 
Apart from the region's existing fleet of BMP-3s, some of the Arab states still operate the BMP-2 IFVs and T-55, T-62 and T-72 MBTs. Various upgrade packages for these vehicles are offered as well. The exposition will include T-72 upgrade aggregates and components tailored to the Middle East climate conditions. These comprise a fire control system with a thermal imaging sight, the GTA-18M gas turbine powerplant with an air conditioning add-on, a smoke/aerosol screen laying system, and an automatic gear shifter. Integration of these systems will almost double the combat capabilities of the T-72. 
 
In the missile and artillery section, foreign customers may get acquainted with the Iskander-E battlefield missile system offering a unique pinpointing accuracy and able to accomplish missions under heavy enemy countermeasures. The professionals will also be informed about the Kornet-E anti-tank missile system suitable for use both autonomously and on various wheeled and tracked combat vehicles owing to its small weight and dimensions. Among the exhibits are the Kapustnik-B and Mashina-M automated fire control systems for artillery mounts and multiple rocket launchers (MRLs). New kinds of artillery rockets and warheads for MRLs as well as an automated armament management system, which is easily integratable into the British-made Scorpion light tanks operational with the UAE army, will surely attract attention of the experts. 
 
Russian small arms will be widely showcased at the exhibition. Such world-famous high-performance small arms as the improved Kalashnikov AK-101, AK-102, AK-103 and AK-104 series 5.56 mm and 7.62 mm assault rifles and Dragunov SVD and SVDS sniper rifles will expectedly arouse a traditional interest among the visitors to the exhibition. Stands will exhibit diverse versions of pistols, assault rifles, flame throwers, portable and hand-held anti-tank grenade launchers, as well as a variety of ammunition and cartridges. 
 
During the exhibition visitors will be able to observe live firing from the Kord 12.7 mm heavy versatile machine gun featuring high operational reliability at the ambient temperatures of up to +50oC. The Kord loses its unique combat capabilities neither in dust conditions, nor after submersion, nor with no cleaning and lubrication. It safely operates and can deliver a rain of fire with no additional barrel cooling while maintaining its aiming accuracy. Its competitive edge depends, inter alia, on the stability of grouping of hits, accuracy of fire and rate of fire throughout the entire service life. The Kord serves to defeat enemy soft-skin and light armored vehicles and personnel at ranges out to 2,000 m as well as low-flying air targets at slant ranges of up to 1,500 m. It can be used both as a heavy assault rifle and machine gun mount suitable for installation on any motor and armored vehicles, helicopters, boats, sea vessels, rail cars, etc. 
 
The 9 mm SR-1 self-loading pistol, 9 mm SR-2 machine pistol and 9 mm SR-3 compact assault rifle are intended for equipping police and antiterrorist forces. An original bullet design and optimum ballistic characteristics contribute to their high piercing and kill performance, particularly when firing on soft-skin vehicles as well as targets protected by splinter-proof armor vests. 
 
Representatives of special services may take interest in the 7.62 mm PSS “stealthy” pistol. Intended for silent and flameless shooting, it often becomes the weapon of choice in neutralizing terrorists and freeing refugees. The exposition will also display the 9 mm AS special assault rifle and 9 mm VSS special sniper rifle with the PSO-1-1 sight, which can penetrate an armor vest at ranges within 400 m. In terms of reliability and operating ability under harsh conditions (dust, dirt, sand, rain, etc.) and at the temperatures between -50oC and +50oC, these special rifles are as good as the undemanding Kalashnikov assault rifle. 
 
The Russian exposition will widely demonstrate air defense systems and radar reconnaissance facilities. Particularly, the professionals and visitors will be able to get familiar with the capabilities of the S-300PMU-2 Favorit and Antei-2500 mobile multi-channel long-range SAM systems, which are far superior to their nearest counterpart, the American Patriot PAC-3 SAM system, in terms of main combat characteristics. Each of them can be deployed in the terrain and prepared for launch within 5 minutes after a march. The Favorit and Antei-2500 can effectively engage 24 to 36 targets at a time at ranges out to 200 km and altitudes between 10-25 m and 27-30 km. Both systems use vertical launch missiles, which are largely responsible for their minimum reaction time. 
 
The visitors will get relevant information on the Buk-M1-2 and Tor-M1 medium- and short-range SAM systems, Tunguska-M1 missile/gun air defense system, and Igla MANPAD system. 
 
The Buk-M1-2 modern mobile multifunction system surpasses all foreign counterparts with regard to uniqueness of know-hows embodied in its design. It provides high firepower and can fire simultaneously on up to six targets flying from different directions at the altitudes from 15 m to 25 km and at ranges out to 42 km. In terms of operational capabilities and survivability, this SAM system is unrivalled in the world. 
 
The Tor-M1 SAM system is an example of implemented unique design solutions and high technologies. Each launch vehicle can conduct radar reconnaissance on the move, acquire up to 48 targets at once, select ten most formidable threats of them, and engage up to two targets at a time at a short halt. With all its components mounted on a single platform, high level of automation and unique operational sequence algorithms, the Tor-M1 provides minimum reaction time and can effectively counter current and future air threats, including submunitions of precision-guided weapons, cruise missiles, tactical planes and helicopters. The system uses vertical launch missiles and a radio command missile guidance system. It can be supplied in tracked, wheeled or container versions. 
 
For target detection, Russia offers high-performance Kasta-2E2 low-flying target acquisition radar and Gamma-S1E and Protivnik-GE mobile microwave and UHF radars with acquisition ranges exceeding 300-400 km. The Russian exposition also demonstrates the Nebo-SVU mobile VHF radar with an active phased-array antenna system featuring unique capabilities to detect stealthy aerial targets and the Feniks electro-optical all-round surveillance system intended to automatically detect and track air and surface targets, including low-flying threats, from their infrared radiation. 
 
Foreign customers may be interested in the Zoopark artillery/missile reconnaissance radar with detection range of up to 15-40 km, Kredo-1 radar able to detect moving ground targets at ranges from 15 to 40 km, and Fara-1 portable surveillance and weapon guidance radar. The latter is intended for reconnaissance or safeguarding of an assigned sector of territory, automatic detection of moving objects (people, vehicles) round-the-clock under any weather conditions at distances of up to 5 km, ranging of the objects detected and their identification. The Fara-1 is now successfully used by Russian law enforcement agencies and can be employed by the states of the region in antiterrorist operations. 
 
Jointly with Russian helicopter manufacturers, the Rosoboronexport State Corporation will offer our guests essentially the whole line of domestic helicopters together with relevant information on their onboard and ground equipment, maintenance and training aids. 
 
The Mil helicopters will be represented by the new M-28NE Night Hunter all-weather attack helicopter, Mi-171Sh and Mi-17V-5 combat transport and military transport helicopters, Mi-35M night/day combat transport helicopter, and the Mi-26T, the world's heaviest cargo helicopter. Information on the Mi-17-1V assault transport helicopter will be accompanied by a package of proposals for simulators and equipment for a training computer classroom designed for pilot and technical personnel training. 
 
The Kamov helicopters on display will include the Ka-50 single-seat attack helicopter, its tandem twin-seat derivative, the Ka-50-2, optimal for reconnaissance-and-strike missions, Ka-31 radar picket helicopter as well as the shipborne Ka-27PS SAR helicopter. 
 
The naval section of the Russian exposition will represent virtually the whole spectrum of non-nuclear submarines, combatant ships and boats varying in purpose. On display will be several tens of projects, from fast patrol craft to multi-mission frigates and destroyers displacing 9,000 tons. High-speed patrol interception craft, air-cushion patrol and landing craft and ships, Project 20382 Tiger corvettes, and Gepard-3.9 and Korsar multi-mission frigates may be of particular interest to the Gulf States. Professionals will obtain technical consultations on Project 636 low-noise submarines carrying the Club-S missile system, unique Amur 1650 fourth-generation submarines, and Piranha-series midget submarines intended for littoral operations. 
 
Information on coastal missile and artillery systems, various weapons, combat and technical systems as well as target acquisition, information processing and targeting systems intended for installation on various classes of ships will also be provided. 
 
The Russian delegation and Rosoboronexport officials express hope that the participation of the domestic enterprises in IDEX 2007, especially in view of the latest official visit of Russian President Vladimir Putin to Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Jordan, will foster further expansion of the military and technological cooperation between Russia and the Gulf and Arabian Peninsula countries, whereas talks held here will provide the basis for securing contracts on the purchase of Russian weapons and military equipment with their further integration into the national and region-wide collective security systems.