Russian premiere at FAMEX 2017

JSC Rosoboronexport (part of the Rostec State Corporation) organized the first Russian display at the FAMEX 2017, Mexico’s Aerospace Exhibition, to be held at Air Force Base 1, Saint Lucia, Mexico.

‘Rosoboronexport has pursued a coherent policy to cement its positions in the countries of Latin America. The region accounts for more than 9 per cent of the entire export of Russian military equipment since 2001. The majority of this equipment is made up of aircraft and helicopters making up the centerpiece of FAMEX,’ said Alexander Denisov, Head of Rosoboronexport’s Marketing Department, who leads the company’s delegation to the exhibition. Rosoboronexport presented over 160 pieces of Russian military equipment. Russia’s joint delegation to FAMEX 2017 also included the representatives of the Russian Helicopters holding company.

Rosoboronexport’s specialists expect the following aircraft to gain the greatest popularity in the region: the Yak-130 combat trainer, Su-30MK multirole air superiority fighter and MiG-29M multirole frontline fighter. Russian helicopters that may catch the interest of foreign customers include the Mi-28NE and Ka-52 attack helicopters, Mi-17V-5 and Mi-171Sh military-transport helicopters, Mi-35M attack/transport helicopter, Ansat light multirole helicopter and Mi-26T2 heavy transport helicopter. Foreign customers have also shown invariable interest in the Russian air defense assets, such as the Pantsir-S1 air defense missile system.

Regional countries also seem to be interested in military equipment used by security forces in their war on crime, terrorism and illegal drug trafficking. Therefore, Rosoboronexport expects representatives of the military and special units to turn their attention to the BTR-80A/82A armored personnel vehicles, Tigr-M multipurpose vehicles, small arms, grenade launchers and the Ural regionally reputed vehicles.

Full-size models presented at FAMEX 2017 include the Mi-17 helicopter and Gorets-M vehicle highly commended by their Mexican operators. Specialists were particularly interested in the Gorets-M Russian Special Forces armored vehicle, which has been successfully undergoing tests after it was handed over to Mexico more than two months ago. Exhibition models of the Mi-17 helicopters have been provided by the Ministry of National Defense of Mexico. The company also presented in Mexico its Comprehensive Security System ensuring comprehensive cyber security and monitoring of aerial and coastal areas, state borders, large cities, districts and facilities.

According to the organizers of FAMEX 2017, many senior officials from the air forces of Latin American countries and other regions of the world also were interest in the Russian military equipment tested during the counterterrorist operation in Syria. Other topics which Rosoboronexport was discussed with the representatives of regional armed forces included technological partnership and joint research and development of military equipment.