In July 2017, most of the news related to the export of Russian arms was related to aviation and helicopter technology. However, they were not the most talked about news of this summer month. The greatest resonance was caused by the statement of the Turkish President that Ankara and Moscow had reached an agreement and signed a contract for the supply of S-400 Triumph air defense systems to Turkey. Separately, it is worth noting the news of large deliveries of T-90S tanks to Iraq (deliveries are officially confirmed, the first batch has already been sent) and the signing of a preliminary agreement for the supply of weapons to Saudi Arabia in the amount of 3.5 billion dollars. With more than $ 20 billion worth of preliminary contracts signed with Saudi Arabia in the past, which ended in nothing, the new agreements should also be viewed with a fair amount of skepticism about Riyadh.
Turkish President announced the signing of an agreement with Russia on the supply of S-400 "Triumph"
On July 25, TASS circulated the words of Turkish President Erdogan, who spoke about the signing of certain documents by Ankara and Moscow as part of an agreement on the acquisition of Russian S-400 air defense systems. The Turkish leader's statement was previously quoted by the Turkish television channel Haber 7. “We have taken joint steps on this topic with Russia. Signatures have been put, and I hope we will soon see the S-400 complexes in Turkey. We will also request the joint production of these anti-aircraft missile systems, "Erdogan noted, stressing that for years Turkey could not get from the United States what it needed in terms of acquiring anti-aircraft missile systems and" was forced to search. " The acquisition from Russia of the S-400 air defense systems is the fruit of these searches. Erdogan also noted that Greece, as a NATO member, has been using the S-300 complex for many years, which did not cause concern for the United States.
General Joseph Dunford, chairman of the US Chiefs of Staff, previously said Washington would be alarmed by Turkey's purchase of Russian S-400 systems. The Turkish president, in turn, said that he did not understand why the United States was concerned about the possible acquisition of S-400 complexes from Russia, pointing out that any country has the right to take certain steps aimed at ensuring its own security. At the same time, Vladimir Kozhin, Assistant to the President of Russia on Military Technical Cooperation, said that the contract for the supply of S-400 air defense systems to Turkey had indeed been agreed upon. Other Turkish officials have previously said that negotiations between Moscow and Ankara on the acquisition of the S-400 have reached the final stage. The details of the contract (the number of supplied complexes and their cost) were not officially disclosed.
At the end of July, Pentagon spokesman Jeff Davis also spoke about the supply of Russian S-400 Triumph air defense systems to Turkey. “In general, with regard to any of our partners and ally with whom we work (and we, of course, work with the Turkish side), we are always worried about what they get. We want them to buy and invest in things that contribute to our union. Thus, the Pentagon criticized the Turkish decision, noting that it expects NATO countries to invest in the alliance systems.
Russia and Saudi Arabia discuss the possibility of supplying weapons for $ 3.5 billion
On Monday, July 10, the general director of the state corporation "Rostec" Sergei Chemezov said that the Russian Federation and Saudi Arabia signed a preliminary agreement, which provides for the supply of weapons and equipment to Riyadh in the amount of 3.5 billion dollars. Earlier, Moscow has repeatedly tried to enter the arms market of Saudi Arabia. Packages of contracts worth up to $ 20 billion were discussed between the countries, however, unlike the United States, Russia never reached the point of signing firm contracts. According to the Kommersant newspaper, this time it will be possible to understand the seriousness of Riyadh's intentions following the visit of King Salman al-Saud to Moscow, which may take place before the end of 2017.
According to two top managers of Russian defense industry enterprises, even the initiation of such a substantial package of contracts does not provide any guarantee that firm agreements will be concluded between the two countries. Over the past decade and a half, Riyadh has consistently shown interest in a fairly wide range of Russian-made military products (from Mi-35M helicopters, BMP-3 infantry fighting vehicles and T-90 main battle tanks to modern Antey-2500 anti-aircraft missile systems and S-400 "Triumph"). In an interview with Kommersant, Sergei Chemezov said that the Saudis are constantly interested in the possibility of supplying the Iskander-E operational-tactical complex, but clarified that it is included in the list of products that are banned for export. And Moscow will not make an exception for the sake of Riyadh. Earlier, several times countries have already managed to agree on the nomenclature of weapons, however, Saudi Arabia did not sign legally binding documents, focusing on the United States when purchasing weapons.
For example, during the May visit of American President Donald Trump to Riyadh, an arms supply worth almost $ 110 billion was agreed, which, according to White House officials, made this the largest deal in the history of the United States. According to some reports, the agreement signed by the parties provides for the supply of fighters, combat helicopters, armored vehicles, aircraft destruction weapons, coastal warships and anti-missile defense systems of the THAAD type.
At the same time, the only Russian contract, which was signed with Saudi Arabia, was signed in the mid-2000s and provided for the supply of about 10 thousand AK-74M assault rifles, which were used by the Saudi police. Andrei Frolov, editor-in-chief of the Arms Export magazine, stressed that the conclusion of new contracts with the Saudis for $ 3.5 billion could be a big breakthrough for Russia in this arms market. However, he has no confidence that this story will be able to be brought to its logical conclusion and the signing of firm agreements on the supply of weapons.
At the same time, Sergei Chemezov reminded reporters that about 5 years ago, Riyadh and Moscow had already discussed possible arms contracts worth about $ 20 billion, but the matter did not go beyond intentions. “Saudi Arabia did not buy anything for a kopeck at that time. To call a spade a spade, they just played with Russia, saying: you don’t supply Iran with S-300 systems, but we will acquire your weapons - tanks and other equipment.” As a result, in 2015, Russian President Vladimir Putin lifted the 2010 ban on the supply of S-300 air defense systems to Iran, and in 2016 Tehran received 4 S-300PMU-2 divisions worth at least one billion dollars.
Russia will supply China with 4 additional Mi-171E helicopters
On July 20, 2017, as part of the MAKS-2017 International Aviation and Space Salon in the Moscow Region, Rosoboronexport (part of the Rostec state corporation) signed a contract with China for the supply of an additional batch of Mi-171E transport helicopters. “We signed a contract for the supply of an additional batch of Mi-171E transport helicopters and equipment for them to the PRC. Our Chinese partners will receive 4 helicopters, the contract will be executed in 2018,”Alexander Mikheev, who holds the post of CEO of Rosoboronexport, told reporters.
The Mi-171E helicopter is a transport version of this type of helicopter, which is widely exported. This machine is in great demand all over the world. The Mi-171E is successfully operated in many countries of Southeast Asia, including the People's Republic of China. Mi-171 helicopters are widely used in China for various purposes, including transporting people from disaster zones, transporting various goods, including medicines, construction materials, and humanitarian aid. Alexander Mikheev also noted that within the framework of MAKS-2017, the parties signed a contract for the supply of 4 modern VK-2500 helicopter engines, which can be installed on Mi-17 helicopters as part of the remotorization. Engine delivery is also scheduled for 2018.
According to Rosoboronexport, Mi-17 helicopters over the past decade have been confidently holding the lead in terms of deliveries to the global helicopter market in the segment of medium military transport and multipurpose helicopters. During this time, about 800 helicopters of this type were exported, which exceeds the volume of supplies of foreign analogues. In total, over the past 30 years, more than 4 thousand helicopters of all types have been exported from our country to more than 100 countries of the world.
In addition to this contract, within the framework of the MAKS-2017 aerospace show, the Russian Helicopters holding (also part of the Rostec state corporation) signed three contracts with the Chinese company United Helicopters International Group for the supply of 10 civilian helicopters in 2017-2018. It is reported that this company will receive 5 Russian light Ansat helicopters in a medical version, three Mi-171 helicopters in a transport version and two Ka-32A11BC fire-fighting helicopters, all of which will be transferred to operators in China in the future.
Delivery of a large batch of T-90s to Iraq confirmed
The Iraqi Armed Forces are buying Russian T-90 main battle tanks, which have performed well during the fighting in Syria. The fact of the signing of the contract between the Russian Federation and Iraq to the Izvestia newspaper was confirmed by Vladimir Kozhin, aide to the President of Russia on military technical cooperation. In the expert environment, the contract for the supply of T-90 tanks is estimated at one billion dollars, and the number of tanks purchased at several hundred.
In an interview with Izvestia, Vladimir Kozhin called the contract decent, noting that the Iraqi military would receive a large batch of tanks under it. At the same time, he did not name the number of purchased combat vehicles or the amount of the contract. Earlier, the Iraqi Ministry of Defense had already announced the purchase of T-90 tanks, then it was about the supply of more than 70 tanks. According to Russian journalists, this is only the first batch of vehicles handed over to the Iraqi military, followed by several more deliveries. The Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation is in no hurry to disclose the details of the deal.
As representatives of the Russian expert community note, since the Soviet period, contracts with Iraq for the supply of weapons imply a large volume of supplied products and high added value. In this case, we can safely talk about the supply of several hundred tanks, and the contract amount may exceed one billion dollars. This contract is a great help for Uralvagonzavod. Among other things, the concluded contract is a serious foreign policy success of our country, since the Americans fought in Iraq, and the choice of the Iraqi military in the end still settled on the Russian tank, said Ruslan Pukhov, director of the Center for Analysis of Strategies and Technologies.
Earlier, NPK Uralvagonzavod JSC published its 2016 annual report. In this report, among the priority tasks for 2017, the implementation of the contract with the customer "368" (Iraq) for the supply of the first batch of T-90S / SK tanks in the amount of 73 vehicles was identified. The same report contained information on the implementation in 2017 of the contract with the customer "704" (Vietnam) for the supply of 64 T-90S / SK tanks. News about the conclusion of a contract for the supply of T-90 tanks to Vietnam has not yet appeared in the Russian press.
Algeria shows interest in Su-32 bombers (export version of the Su-34)
According to the Algerian information site MenaDefense, the Algerian delegation, which visited the MAKS-2017 aerospace show in the Moscow region, raised a very important issue about the Su-32 bomber (export version of the Su-34), whose purchase has been postponed by the Algerian side for more than a year. It is reported that Algeria has expressed its intention to acquire at least a squadron of these aircraft. As part of the Air Force of this North African country, they are called upon to replace the Su-24MK bombers in service. Within the framework of the exhibition, the participants of the Algerian delegation were able to inspect the Su-34 aircraft, as well as obtain detailed information on its characteristics.
If the contract between Russia and Algeria is nevertheless signed, this country will become the first foreign customer for the export version of the newest Russian front-line bomber Su-34. For the first time, information that Algeria is going to acquire Russian bombers appeared at the beginning of 2016. Then the DefenseNews website wrote that Algeria was buying 12 Su-32 aircraft under the first contract worth $ 500 million, and in total it could order up to 40 aircraft of this type in Russia.
Russia is negotiating with Angola on the supply of 6 additional Su-30K fighters
According to the Kommersant newspaper, Russia and Angola are negotiating the purchase of 6 additional Su-30K fighters. If they are successfully completed, this African country will be able to increase its aircraft fleet, and Russia will get rid of the aircraft that were built under the Indian contract of 1996-1998. True, there are difficulties here. Back in 2013, Luanda contracted a squadron of these fighters, but still has not received a single aircraft. At the same time, Russian officials insist that the contract with Angola is being fulfilled in accordance with the agreements.
The contract for the purchase of 12 of the 18 former Indian Su-30K fighters was signed by Rosoboronexport back in October 2013. However, the execution of this contract was delayed. It is currently assumed that all 12 aircraft that are undergoing repair and modernization at the 558th aircraft repair plant in Baranovichi (Belarus) will be transferred to Angola during 2017. The first modernized fighter took to the skies in early February 2017.
The Su-30K (T-10PK) fighters were "transitional" models built as the first 18 aircraft at the Irkutsk Aviation Plant JSC "Irkut Corporation" for subsequent delivery to India under the Su-30MKI program under agreements of 1996 and 1998. The aircraft were delivered to India in 1997-1999, but under an agreement of 2005 they were returned by the Indian side to the Irkut corporation in exchange for the supply of 16 full-fledged Su-30MKI fighters to India. In July 2011, all 18 Su-30K aircraft returned by the Indian military were transported to the 558th ARZ in Baranovichi, where they were stored for subsequent resale, while remaining the property of the Irkut corporation. The fighters were not returned to Russia in order to avoid paying the corresponding import duties.
Sources in the aviation industry told Kommersant that Belarusian and Russian specialists are actively looking for buyers for the 6 remaining Su-30K fighters stored in Belarus. This was confirmed by the director of the 558th aircraft repair plant Pavel Pinigin, who attended the MAKS-2017 air show in Zhukovsky. According to Pinigin, the search for a buyer is "just a matter of time" and "there are no problems with that." In turn, the newspaper's sources in the field of military-technical cooperation (MTC) stressed that negotiations on the supply of 6 Su-30K fighters are underway with Angola. Representatives of Rosoboronexport did not comment on this in any way.
