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The Dubai Airshow 2025 is poised to become a defining moment for Russia\u2019s global arms export strategy as ROSOBORONEXPORT prepares to showcase the largest number of full-scale weapon systems ever presented by Moscow at an international defence exhibition. The unprecedented display underscores Russia\u2019s ambitions to deepen its military-industrial presence in the Middle East amid intensifying global competition across airpower, missile systems, UAVs, and electronic warfare \u2014 sectors contributing to a global defence market projected to surpass USD 800 billion within the next decade.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n ROSOBORONEXPORT JSC, part of the Rostec State Corporation, is leading the unified Russian national exhibit, featuring a vast 1,000-square-metre pavilion at the Dubai World Central venue. The scale of the exhibit reflects a deliberate international push by Moscow to reinforce its status as one of the world\u2019s top arms exporters, even as it faces sustained Western sanctions and geopolitical pressure.<\/p>\n Russia\u2019s national exhibit integrates products from nearly every major entity in its defence-industrial complex, including United Aircraft Corporation, United Engine Corporation, the Radio-Electronic Technologies Concern (KRET), Almaz-Antey Air and Space Defence Corporation, and the Tactical Missiles Corporation. According to ROSOBORONEXPORT, more than\u00a0850 defence products<\/strong>\u00a0will be showcased, with\u00a0over 30 full-scale systems<\/strong>\u00a0displayed on static stands \u2014 the largest number of real-size weapon platforms Russia has ever brought to a foreign airshow.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Dubai Airshow is a global platform where trends in the aerospace and defence industries are shaped. In 2025, ROSOBORONEXPORT will showcase more than 850 Russian products \u2014 highly intelligent systems capable of dramatically enhancing our partners\u2019 defence capabilities,\u201d said Director General Alexander Mikheev. \u201cWe will hold talks with delegations from the Middle East, North Africa, and other regions regarding supply contracts and technology cooperation.\u201d<\/p>\n The star attraction of Russia\u2019s presence will be the long-anticipated Middle Eastern debut of the\u00a0Su-57E<\/strong>, the export version of Russia\u2019s fifth-generation stealth multirole fighter. Its participation in the airshow\u2019s flight demonstration program is expected to draw strong interest from Gulf and North African militaries seeking next-generation airpower alternatives to US and European platforms.<\/p>\n The timing is strategic. Nations such as Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Algeria, and Egypt are actively pursuing advanced fighter technologies and exploring options that reduce dependence on Western supply chains. Russia plans to differentiate the Su-57E by offering not only acquisition packages but also\u00a0technology transfer and production localization<\/strong>, a pitch aimed at countries seeking to develop their domestic aerospace industries.<\/p>\n \u201cToday, Russia is the only country offering not only the supply of fifth-generation fighters but also the localization of Su-57E production on the territory of a foreign customer,\u201d Mikheev noted. Such industrial partnership packages \u2014 involving licensed assembly, avionics integration, or joint propulsion projects \u2014 could exceed\u00a0USD 5\u20137 billion<\/strong>, depending on the scope of cooperation.<\/p>\n On static display, the Su-57E will be accompanied by its full internal weapons suite:<\/p>\n RVV-MD2<\/strong>\u00a0short-range missile for high off-boresight engagements<\/p>\n<\/li>\n RVV-BD<\/strong>\u00a0extended-range missile capable of interceptions beyond 200 km<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Kh-38MLE<\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0Kh-69<\/strong>\u00a0precision strike missiles designed for low-observable deep-strike missions<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Grom-E1<\/strong>\u00a0guided bomb<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Kh-58UShKE<\/strong>\u00a0anti-radiation missile for SEAD\/DEAD missions<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n Russia aims to position the Su-57E as a versatile multi-domain strike platform capable of contesting Western dominance in the fifth-generation fighter market, long dominated by the F-35A.<\/p>\n Beyond fifth-generation fighters, Russia will display a broad portfolio of combat aircraft and helicopters tailored to diverse mission roles.<\/p>\n The IL-76MD-90A(E)<\/strong>\u00a0heavy airlifter will be showcased in a full configuration. With a payload capacity of\u00a060 tonnes over 4,000 km<\/strong>\u00a0and an optional President-S self-protection suite, the aircraft targets markets prioritizing strategic mobility, disaster response, and airborne deployment. Pricing is estimated between\u00a0USD 50\u201360 million<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Marking its world premiere, the\u00a0Yak-130M<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014 an advanced evolution of Russia\u2019s light combat trainer \u2014 will also be unveiled. Equipped with an integrated radar, new avionics suite, targeting pod compatibility, the President-S130 EW suite, and expanded precision-guided weapons capability, the Yak-130M is being pitched as a cost-effective multirole fighter solution in the\u00a0USD 25\u201330 million<\/strong>\u00a0category.<\/p>\n Also participating in the airshow\u2019s flight display is the\u00a0Ka-52<\/strong> reconnaissance and attack helicopter, renowned for its combat performance. Russia will exhibit advanced air-to-surface munitions:<\/p>\n Russia will further introduce the next-generation\u00a0Item 177S turbojet engine<\/strong>, part of its broader effort to modernize propulsion technology across tactical and strategic aviation platforms.<\/p>\n Unmanned systems will form one of the most heavily promoted segments of Russia\u2019s exhibit. With global demand for loitering munitions alone expected to exceed\u00a0USD 8 billion by 2030<\/strong>, Russia aims to strengthen its presence in a rapidly expanding market.<\/p>\n Orlan-10E<\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0Orlan-30<\/strong>\u00a0reconnaissance UAVs<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Skat-350M<\/strong>\u00a0ISR drone<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Lancet-E<\/strong>\u00a0loitering munition<\/p>\n<\/li>\n KUB-2-2E<\/strong>\u00a0loitering munition with autonomous guidance<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n The\u00a0Lancet-E<\/strong>, in particular, is being highlighted for its \u201cextensive combat experience,\u201d with Russian officials emphasizing its demonstrated effectiveness against armour, artillery, radar installations, ammunition stores, and logistics hubs.<\/p>\n The Orlan series \u2014 known for affordability and modular ISR capabilities \u2014 is expected to appeal to customers in the Middle East, Africa, and Southeast Asia seeking battlefield surveillance systems without the price tag of Western alternatives.<\/p>\n For the first time in Dubai Airshow history, Russia will present\u00a0full-scale air defence systems<\/strong>, signalling a push to expand its footprint in the global integrated air defence domain.<\/p>\n Leading the display is the\u00a0Pantsir-SMD-E<\/strong>, an advanced surface-to-air missile and gun system capable of defeating UAVs, cruise missiles, and precision-guided munitions. Its modular launcher design supports either:<\/p>\n up to\u00a048 TKB-1055<\/strong>\u00a0short-range missiles, or<\/p>\n<\/li>\n up to\u00a012 57E6<\/strong>\u00a0missiles, or<\/p>\n<\/li>\n a\u00a0mixed configuration<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n Complementary systems include:<\/p>\n These systems place Russia in direct competition with Western and Asian suppliers such as Raytheon, MBDA, Israel Aerospace Industries, Diehl Defence, and China\u2019s NORINCO. Combined demand for global air defence solutions is forecast to reach\u00a0USD 50 billion over the next five years<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Beyond equipment sales, Russia is preparing for an extensive round of business negotiations centred on long-term cooperation formats such as:<\/p>\n technology transfer<\/p>\n<\/li>\n joint development<\/p>\n<\/li>\n industrial localisation<\/p>\n<\/li>\n co-production agreements<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n \u201cWe\u2019ll focus on technology cooperation \u2014 the most in-demand format of cooperation in the world today,\u201d said Mikheev. \u201cWe will discuss both successfully implemented projects and promising new ones related to the products presented at the airshow.\u201d<\/p>\n This approach reflects the changing priorities of militaries in the Middle East, Africa, and the Asia-Pacific, many of which increasingly prefer sovereign defence production capabilities over traditional foreign procurement.<\/p>\n Russia\u2019s expansive participation at the Dubai Airshow 2025 signals more than commercial ambition. It marks a long-term strategic effort to reposition itself within the global defence ecosystem through a blend of:<\/p>\n As geopolitical alignments shift and demand for self-reliant military ecosystems grows, Russia is aiming to present itself as an adaptable and technology-sharing defence partner \u2014 particularly for countries seeking alternatives to the Western-dominated supply landscape.<\/p>\n With its largest-ever international showcase, Moscow is positioning Dubai Airshow 2025 as a launchpad for a renewed global export push designed to secure market share, strengthen diplomatic ties, and reinforce Russia\u2019s role as a key defence supplier in a rapidly evolving geopolitical environment.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n\n
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Technology Transfer and Localisation at the Heart of Russian Strategy<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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Strategic Implications<\/strong><\/h3>\n