Translated material
"Favorite" vs. "Patriot"
A major arms show has begun in the United Arab Emirates
Yesterday, February 18, the International Defense Exhibition and Conference IDEX-2007 began in the capital of the United Arab Emirates, Abu Dhabi. It is patronized by the government, the Ministry of Defense and the General Staff of this country. The forum was opened by the President of the UAE, Supreme Commander of the country's armed forces, Khalis Bin Zayed al Nahyan.The exhibition is being held for the eighth time and is rightfully considered one of the most authoritative defense platforms in the world and, of course, the largest in the Middle East. At the current forum, according to preliminary estimates, about 900 companies from fifty countries presented their products, and more than 70 delegations of military and civilian departments will visit the defense show. The IDEX tradition of showing full-scale weapons, including wheeled and tracked vehicles, will be continued this time.
Russia has been participating in IDEX since the first exhibition in 1993. At this year's event, more than 40 enterprises and organizations of the domestic military-industrial complex are presenting their products. The united Russian exposition, traditionally headed by the state intermediary - the Federal State Unitary Enterprise "Rosoboronexport", on rented 750 sq. m of area represents over 500 items of military and dual-use export products. Naturally, these military equipment and weapons (WME) are focused on the needs of the countries of the Persian Gulf and the Arabian Peninsula. With each exhibition, more and more space is allocated for demonstrating the capabilities for repair and modernization, servicing of already supplied weapons and military equipment, which until recently was a weak point of the Russian arms trade.
The ground forces of the UAE and Kuwait have a lot of Russian-made BMP-3 infantry fighting vehicles, so Rosoboronexport presented an extensive program for their modernization, promising as a result an increase in combat effectiveness by more than one and a half times. In particular, due to the installation of the Shtora-1 high-precision weapon protection complex, a new air conditioner-power unit, an electronic assistant to the driver and gunner (including in Arabic). An automatic gear shift is also added to the innovations in the BMP-3 - the crew must focus all their attention on combat, “and not change gears,” as the developers of the new product believe. Loading of anti-tank guided missiles also occurs automatically. A rear-view camera for the driver and a system for removing powder gases from the fighting compartment appeared.
In general, the field for modernizing weapons in the Persian Gulf countries is very large, since there are still a significant number of BMP-2, T-72, T-62 and even T-55 tanks on the move. For the T-72, fire control systems with a thermal imaging sight, setting up aerosol (or smoke) screens, and again an automatic transmission are offered.
It is difficult to say whether a decision will ever be made to sell the unique Iskander-E operational-tactical system to the Gulf countries , but there is advertising information about it at the exhibition. However, as well as aboutthe Kornet-E anti-tank missile system . Multiple launch rocket systems and artillery are represented not only by the Kapustnik-B and Mashina-M automated control systems, but also by new shells and warheads for them. Representatives of the Russian defense industry even rolled out a new weapons control system that can be easily installed on light Scorpion tanks made by the British. These tanks are in service with the UAE army.
Small arms are represented by the famous “hundredth” series of Kalashnikov assault rifles, Dragunov sniper rifles, various versions of pistols, flamethrowers, portable and hand-held anti-tank grenade launchers. Specialists from all over the arms world will be able to watch firing from the universal 12.7 mm Kord machine gun from the Kovrov plant named after. Degtyareva. This weapon does not lose its combat properties after immersion in water, dust, even without lubrication, at high temperatures and without additional cooling. "Kord" is capable of hitting lightly armored vehicles at a distance of up to 2 km, and low-flying air targets - at 1.5 km. This universal can “work” from a bipod, from a turret, from a machine tool, and can be installed on cars, armored vehicles, helicopters, boats, and railway platforms.
The Almaz-Antey air defense concern , as they say, is showing in Abu Dhabi non-strategic missile defense (NSMD) systems, but long-range ones. And of course, our signature product is the S-300PMU-2 Favorit and Antey-2500 air defense anti-aircraft missile systems (AAMS), which in their main combat characteristics are superior to their closest analogue - the American Patriot anti-aircraft missile system. RAS 3". “Favorit” and “Antey” effectively hit 24-36 targets simultaneously at a range of up to 200 km and altitudes from 10-25 meters to 27-30 km. The concern introduces the medium and short range Buk-M1-2, Tor-M1, Osa-AKM, Shtil-1. To these are added the Kashtan 3M87-E ship-based air defense system and the Club-M coastal missile system, radar stations of various classes and purposes.
The mobile multifunctional Buk-M1-2 implements so much know-how that it surpasses all foreign analogues in terms of combat use and survivability. Placing all Tor-M1 elements on one platform and unique combat operation algorithms allow the complex to operate against a wide range of modern and promising air attack weapons, including precision weapons and cruise missiles.
During the exhibition, it is planned to demonstratethe Pantsir self-propelled anti-aircraft missile and gun system , created by order of the UAE by the Tula Instrument Design Bureau. A contract worth $734 million for the development and supply of 50 Pantsir-S1 complexes was signed in 2000. As you know, the work was somewhat delayed, since the Phazotron corporation was unable to develop the Helmet guidance and tracking radar station in time, and the Tula residents had to change the developer of the station. Deliveries of the complex should begin this year.
Traditionally, helicopter and naval military equipment are widely represented. Russian manufacturers are counting on greater than usual interest in their products and new contracts; the results of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s recent visit to this region allow us to hope for this.