In November 2017, information on several defense contracts important for Russia was finally confirmed. In particular, the supply of Iskander-E missile systems to Algeria, which became the second foreign customer of this operational-tactical missile system, was officially recognized, Armenia being the first. Also, there was information about the beginning of deliveries of the main battle tank T-90S to Vietnam, the contract is underway.
Started deliveries of T-90S tanks to Vietnam
As reported by the Interfax agency, the Russian Federation has begun supplying the T-90S and T-90SK tanks (the commander's version, distinguished by the presence of additional communication and navigation equipment) under a contract previously concluded with Vietnam. Mikhail Petukhov, deputy director of the FSMTC of Russia, who was the head of the official Russian delegation at the Defense & Security exhibition, told the agency's journalists about this. According to him, the parties have started to implement the previously concluded contract.
Previously, information about this contract was confirmed only in the public annual report of Uralvagonzavod, which contained information that in 2017 the implementation of a contract with a foreign customer 704 (Vietnam) for the supply of 64 T-90S / SK tanks should begin. Mikhail Petukhov also said that the Russian side is discussing with Vietnam the possibility of supplying anti-aircraft missile systems. "A dialogue is underway with Vietnam on the supply, modernization and repair of anti-aircraft missile systems and systems of various types," Petukhov said, answering the question of whether the Vietnamese side is interested in buying modern Russian S-400 air defense systems. It should be noted that the S-400 anti-aircraft missile system is a popular product on the international arms market, and many states are showing interest in its acquisition today. Without answering specifically about the possibility of supplying the S-400 complex, Mikhail Petukhov emphasized that at present both countries are working on defining the range of weapons on which further cooperation will be carried out.
It should be noted that Vietnam is traditionally one of the key partners of Russia in the field of military-technical cooperation. Over the five years from 2011 to 2015 inclusive, Vietnam acquired Russian weapons worth $ 3.7 billion, ranking third in the structure of Russian arms exports for this indicator. In July 2017, at the MAKS air show, Alexander Mikheev, the head of Rosoboronexport, said that Russia would supply Vietnam with naval equipment and tanks on credit. Earlier, he noted that a significant volume of Russian supplies in the field of military-technical cooperation is being carried out to Vietnam. Thanks to Russia, this country has created a modern submarine fleet with all the necessary infrastructure.
Delivery of Iskander-E OTRK to Algeria has been officially confirmed
Russia delivered the Iskander-E tactical missile system to one of the countries in the Middle East and North Africa region, RIA Novosti reported in mid-November. The information was confirmed at the Dubai Airshow 2017. The deal was confirmed by an official representative of the Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation (FSMTC) of Russia. Until recently, the only country in service with this modern Russian missile system (according to confirmed data) was Armenia.
It is worth noting that we are talking with almost 100% probability specifically about Algeria. In September 2017, the Algerian user Hammer Head noted on his Facebook page that Algeria acquired 4 Iskander-E tactical missile systems from Russia, becoming the second foreign recipient of this system after Armenia. According to publications in the Algerian press, the contract with Russia for the supply of Iskander-E OTRK was signed back in 2013.
"OTRK" Iskander-E "is a modern type of high-precision weapon, for which there are enough requests from foreign partners of Russia. In 2017, we delivered the complex to one of the countries in the region,”a representative of the FSMTC of Russia commented on the question of whether a contract was really signed with one of the countries of the Middle East and North Africa for the purchase of this complex.
OTRK "Iskander-E" is designed to deliver high-precision strikes with powerful missile weapons against various types of targets (both small-sized and area) located in the operational-tactical depth of the formation of enemy troops. The complex can be used in any theaters of military operations, in any conditions, including when actively countering the enemy with the help of electronic warfare and anti-missile defense.
Morocco is negotiating the purchase of the S-400
According to the bmpd blog, citing Hamza Khabhub's material "Morocco is expanding military cooperation with Russia," posted on the Moroccan resource alyaoum24.com (translated by inosmi.ru), Morocco may become a new buyer of the S-400 air defense systems. The article says that one of the signs of strategic changes in the North African region is the desire of the Moroccan military to buy the S-400 Triumph air defense system from Russia in order to diversify its own military assets. The country follows regional and international events and wants to be ready for them.
The article says that negotiations between the countries on the purchase of anti-missile batteries and aircraft were crowned with an agreement with Rosoboronexport. The agreement was reached during the official visit of Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev to Morocco on October 11, 2017. Following the prime minister's visit, 11 agreements were signed, which concerned not only the strengthening of military cooperation between the countries, but also agriculture, energy, education and tourism. In turn, one of the Moroccan military officials said that the country is participating in projects in the field of the military industry together with a group of states, including India, China and Brazil. They are all interested in the production of air defense equipment, including missile systems and long-range anti-aircraft missiles, through the acquisition of military production licenses.
Military expert Abdel Rahman Makkawi noted that, most likely, the air defense systems acquired by Morocco will be Russian-made. The deal will aim to achieve a military balance in North Africa between Algeria and Morocco. The expert believes that such a shift may have political aspects as well. He believes that Moscow has not forgotten the betrayal of Algeria, which doubled gas production and its exports to Europe, after the imposition of European sanctions against Russia and what the late Ahmed Osman said: "The heart of Algeria is in Russia, but his money is in Europe." … In an interview, Abdel Rahman Makkawi noted that a possible rapprochement between Russia and Morocco can be based on a number of common interests, including those related to the military situation in the North African region. According to him, the course of possible wars in North Africa will depend on long-range missiles, air defense systems and drones.
Thailand orders two more Mi-17V-5 helicopters
As Deputy Director of the Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation (FSMTC) Mikhail Petukhov told TASS on November 7, 2017, Russia and Thailand signed a contract for the supply of two more Mi-17V-5 helicopters this September. Petukhov announced this at the Defense & Security 2017 exhibition. The helicopters are being purchased in the interests of the Royal Thai Land Forces, that is, they will be used by army aviation. According to Petukhov, in the future, you can count on ordering the next batch of helicopters. He also reminded reporters that an intergovernmental agreement on military-technical cooperation was also signed between the countries in September.
Mi-17V-5 is the export designation of the Mi-8MTV-5 helicopter. It is a modern multipurpose military transport helicopter designed to transport personnel and cargo (both inside the cockpit and on an external sling). The helicopter can be equipped with a set of weapons equivalent to the Mi-24 attack helicopter, as well as a complex of armor protection for the crew, the machine is adapted for the use of night vision technology.
These are not the first deliveries of Mi-17V-5 helicopters to Thailand. Earlier, the army of the kingdom has already received three helicopters of this type, the first machines were handed over in March 2011. The Thai army aviation received two more similar helicopters in November 2015 (under a contract worth about $ 40 million). In May, information appeared that the Thai army expects to purchase 12 more helicopters of this type in Russia, so one can count on further deliveries of this helicopter technology to the country.
Uzbekistan to receive 12 Mi-35 attack helicopters
On November 30, 2017, the TASS agency disseminated information that the Ministry of Defense of Uzbekistan and Rosoboronexport signed a contract for the supply of 12 Mi-35 attack helicopters to the country. An unnamed diplomatic source told TASS journalists on the sidelines of the Russia and Uzbekistan: 25 Years of Strategic Partnership exhibition. According to him, the contract between the countries has already been signed, deliveries of Mi-35 attack helicopters under this contract will begin in 2018. Lengthy negotiations on the agreement and the terms of its implementation ended during Dmitry Medvedev's recent visit to Uzbekistan, the source said.
According to the source, a delegation of Rosoboronexport is working in the capital of Uzbekistan, which is engaged in negotiations in the state committee for the defense industry and the Ministry of Defense of the republic. According to him: “Specialists from Russia arrived in Uzbekistan at the invitation of the republican authorities. Practical measures are being taken to implement the agreement on military-technical cooperation, which was signed in November 2016”. The parties signed this agreement in Moscow. It should contribute to the further deepening of mutually beneficial cooperation in the field of military-technical cooperation, in particular, equipping the Uzbek armed forces with promising weapons and military equipment, as well as the repair, modernization and maintenance of existing Russian-made military products.
It should be noted that the Mi-35 is a modern export version of the most popular Russian-made combat attack helicopter, the Mi-24. The helicopter is designed to destroy various types of armored vehicles, provide fire support to ground forces on the battlefield, airborne troops and evacuate the wounded; it can also be used to transport cargo both in the cockpit and on an external sling. The export interest in the helicopter is quite high. In September 2017, Russia signed a contract for the supply of a significant amount of Mi-35M helicopters to Nigeria, and in October this year, information appeared about the signing of a contract with Mali, this African country has already received two helicopters under the agreement.
Details of the production of Ka-226T helicopters for India have appeared
In August 2017, the Aris TV and Radio Company published an interview with Yuri Pustovgarov, who is the Managing Director of Kumertau Aviation Production Enterprise JSC (KumAPP), which is part of the Russian Helicopters holding. In the interview, new information was disclosed regarding the reasons for creating a duplicate production of light multi-purpose Ka-226T helicopters at the Ulan-Ude Aviation Plant JSC (these helicopters are planned to be supplied to India). Excerpts from this interview were published by the bmpd thematic blog.
In an interview with the Aris channel, Pustovgarov said that initially the order for the supply of Ka-226T helicopters for India was to be fulfilled by the KumAPP enterprise. But according to the Indian technical assignment, the helicopter must fly in the mountains at an altitude of 7200 meters. To do this, the car needs a new fuselage, a completely new gearbox, etc. In fact, only the main rotor and blades remain the same for the helicopter.
Taking into account the voiced requirements of the Indian side, it was necessary to prepare a new production, the cost of which is estimated at more than 8 billion rubles (and the helicopter itself will appear in 2020). At the same time, the financial position of KumAPP did not allow such investments. For this reason, a duplicate production of the Ka-226T helicopter is being created at the Ulan-Ude Aviation Plant, and it is here that the "Indian" version of this machine will be assembled.
At the same time, KumAPP will continue to produce Ka-226T helicopters for Russian and foreign customers other than India. In addition, Yuri Pustovgarov noted that the refusal of the plant from the Indian contract was compensated by work with a Russian state customer to produce a ship-based Ka-226 helicopter. According to him, the helicopter will need to be lightened for this by 100-150 kg compared to the base model, as well as equipped with a new set of electronics. Remarkably, the number of vehicles under the contract with the Russian customer coincides with the Indian order for Ka-226T helicopters. In addition, under the Indian contract, the KumAPP enterprise remains a regular supplier of rotor columns and blades (this work will bring the enterprise about 1 billion rubles annually).
