Saha Expo International Defense Exhibition Turkey Istanbul

Rosoboronexport offers security solutions for Africa

Rosoboronexport actively participates in the Russia-Africa Economic Forum, which takes place in Sochi from 23 to 25 October, and coordinates the participation of Russian defense industry enterprises in it, the arms trader said.

Pantsir-S1 air defense system in a live-fire demonstration (Picture source: Army Recognition)

"Rosoboronexport maintains military-technical cooperation with almost all countries of the continent and we are well aware of their needs. Our twenty African partners account for about a third of our order book, more than $14 billion, and this figure shows a growing trend. In 2019 alone, we held more than 20 meetings with top representatives of African countries and hosted about 30 African delegations at the Army-2019 and Maks-2019 exhibitions. Their results suggest that Africa is very interested in Russian weapons, and we can offer our products to meet any contemporary challenge to security. Moreover, Rosoboronexport highly appreciates a reserved attitude of its African partners towards various anti-Russian sanctions, which makes the continent open to fair competition," company CEO Alexander Mikheyev said.

On the sidelines of the Russia-Africa Summit, Rosoboronexport will hold meetings with senior officials of 15 countries. During the negotiations and within the framework of exhibition activities, the company will demonstrate to its trading partners from Africa the most up-to-date products for the armed forces and other law enforcement agencies of the countries of the continent. In addition, the partners will learn about the experience of engaging Russian equipment during the counterterrorist operation in Syria.

Currently, many African States are implementing major programs for restructuring their armed forces and equipping them to counter growing threats to security: terrorism, drug trafficking, organized crime, irregular migration. The guests of the forum can get acquainted with a wide spectrum of advanced high-tech products developed and manufactured by Almaz-Antey Air and Space Defense Corporation, NPK Uralvagonzavod, NPK Tecmash and Proekt-Technika Corporation at their stands in Sochi.

Rosoboronexport is showcasing scaled-down models of the most popular Russian military equipment on the African continent: Yak-130 combat training aircraft, Pantsir-S1 antiaircraft gun/missile system, the Tor-M2KM air defense system and the Mi-171SH military transport helicopter.

In addition, equipment for outfitting army and special counterterrorist units demanded all over the world is on display: Kalashnikov assault rifles, including the latest Kalashnikov AK-200-series, GP-34 grenade launcher, Vityaz-SN assault rifle gun, and sniper rifles, as well as ORSIS civilian and service weapons popular with police units.

Full-scale models of Russian military hardware are exhibited in the outdoor display area: Tigr, BPK-Ural and Typhoon-K protected vehicles, Mi-35P helicopter in a renewed configuration, MiG-35 multi-functional frontline fighter, while the Ansat utility helicopter is demonstrated at Sochi Airport.

Highly mobile and effective counter-UAV systems produced by Rostec’s Avtomatika Concern and able to intercept and suppress small and micro drones at various distances are also presented at the forum: Sapsan-Bekas, Luch-PRO, Pishchal-PRO, Taran-PRO, and Rubezh-Avtomatika. These unique assets are capable of effectively defending specially protected areas, airfields and critical infrastructure, including fuel, energy and nuclear facilities.

"Rosoboronexport is now ready to develop cooperation with African partners on unique terms. We offer not only direct supplies of Russian defense products but also the implementation of various infrastructure projects related to space activities, small arms and ammunition plants, as well as maintenance and repair facilities for all services of the armed forces," Mikheyev said.

As part of the forum, the roundtable "A Safe Africa" will be held, where the problems of terrorism, irregular migration, smuggling and crime will be discussed. Russia’s leading security equipment manufacturers will talk about the experience of implementing a set of measures to effectively counter major threats to security and prevent them in the conditions prevailing in African countries.

Rosoboronexport will offer its comprehensive solutions to the most pressing problems facing the continent at its stand, where public presentations on the following topics will be delivered: "Border and critical infrastructure security equipment", "Russian small arms", "Russian-made protected vehicles", "Counterterrorism equipment", "Equipment for countering smuggling and irregular migration".