Expodefensa 2017: Colombia bought $500mn of Russian equipment in 20 years.

The Rosoboronexport state arms seller, part of Russia’s Rostec state hi-tech corporation, is taking part in the Expodefensa 2017 international arms exhibition in Bogota for the first time, the company’s press office said. "Russia and Colombia have been developing military and technical cooperation for more than 20 years. Over all these years, our countries have been maintaining and strengthening friendly mutually-beneficial relations and the deliveries of Russian military hardware and services have approached $500 million," Head of Rosoboronexport’s Marketing Department Alexander Denisov said.

Rosoboronexport's booth at Expodefensa 2017

"Today, the Colombian Armed Forces operate more than 20 Mil Mi-17 [NATO reporting name: Hip] helicopters and Rosoboronexport provides timely maintenance and repair for them," said Denisov, who is heading Rosoboronexport’s delegation at the exhibition.

"Moreover, we can see interest in active cooperation as far as other types of Russian-made military hardware are concerned. The talk is about systems for all armed services and special army units and police," he added.

The Yakovlev Yak-130 (Mitten) combat trainer and Sukhoi Su-35 (Flanker-E), Su-30MK (Flanker-G) and Mikoyan MiG-29M (Fulcrum) multirole fighter jets are regarded to be the most promising aircraft in Latin America.

Foreign customers are also showing interest in the Mi-17, Mi-26T2 (Halo) and Ansat helicopters.

Rosoboronexport’s partners traditionally demonstrate interest in Russian-made air defense systems, in particular, the Pantsyr-S1 (SA-22 Greyhound) antiaircraft missile/gun system, the Tor-M2KM (SA-15 Gauntlet) and Buk-M2E (SA-17 Grizzly) air defense missile systems and the Igla-S (SA-18 Grouse) man-portable air defense system.

Latin American naval officials may be interested in the Project 20382 Tigr-class corvette, the Project 14310 Mirazh-class patrol boat and the Project 636 diesel-electric submarine.

Latin American countries also demonstrate interest in military hardware that is designed for the army but also used by special forces to fight crime, terrorism and drug mafia.

In this context, Rosoboronexport expects that the BMP-3M infantry fighting vehicle, BTR-80A/82A armored personnel carrier, Tigr-M and Taifun-K vehicles, small arms and close-combat weapons will arouse interest of foreign customers at the Expodefensa 2017 exhibition.