June 2017 was comparatively rich in news regarding the export of Russian weapons to various countries. The main news concerns the supply of aviation equipment, armored vehicles and air defense systems. Perhaps one of the main news in June was information about the possible delivery of up to 400-500 Russian MBT T-90MS to Egypt.
Possible delivery of T-90MS to Egypt
Information appeared on social networks about the agreements reached on the supply of a large batch of T-90MS main battle tanks to Egypt. Blogger Altyn73 was the first to write about this in livejournal, citing Arabic sources. According to him, we are talking about the supply of 400-500 tanks, including the transfer of vehicle kits for the assembly of combat vehicles directly in Egypt.
At present, these are only rumors, but several Egyptian bloggers did write about the Egyptian-Russian negotiations regarding a very large deal for "one of the strongest tanks in the world." Allegedly, this issue was previously discussed during the visit to Egypt on May 29 of Russian ministers Sergei Shoigu and Sergei Lavrov (supply of weapons in exchange for the resumption of air traffic between states). Once again, this issue could have been raised the next day during negotiations between the second crown prince, Minister of Defense of Saudi Arabia, Mohammad bin Salman, with Russian President Vladimir Putin, the meeting was held in the Russian capital.
The T-90MS was created within the framework of development work on the "Breakthrough-2" theme. The tank is the most modern export version of the T-90. The new 125 mm 2A46M-5 cannon is used as the main armament. The tank is equipped with a modern fire control system "Kalina", a complex of dynamic protection "Relikt" instead of "Contact-5", as well as a remotely controlled machine gun mount. In September 2015, within the framework of the RAE-2015 exhibition, representatives of Uralvagonzavod noted that the corporation had completed a full cycle of tests for the T-90MS tank intended for export, the vehicle was fully ready for serial production. You can get acquainted with the opinion of experts on the possibility of concluding a contract for the supply of MBT data to Egypt in the material of the "Free Press".
Earlier, the Minister of Industry and Trade of Russia Denis Manturov said that the contract for the supply of T-90MS tanks was concluded with one of the Middle Eastern countries. It is worth noting that if the contract is indeed concluded, then 500 tanks will cost Cairo about two billion dollars.
Started deliveries of S-300 VM (Antey-2500) air defense systems to Egypt
The Internet resource "Menadefense" in its material "Egypt to recieve Antey 2500 missile systems" reports that Russia has begun to supply Egypt with a modern anti-aircraft missile system S-300VM "Antey-2500". The first combat vehicles of this air defense complex have already been delivered to the country. Confirmation is the photographs of the unloading of combat vehicles and missiles of the S-300VM air defense systems taken in the port of Alexandria and appeared on the network in June 2017.
It is worth noting that Egypt became the second customer after Venezuela of this anti-aircraft missile system. Its inclusion in the Egyptian air defense system, according to experts, is able to change the balance of power in the region. In particular, Israel is concerned about the supply of this air defense system. In general, it can be stated that Egypt is currently becoming a major buyer of Russian weapons. In addition to air defense systems, Egypt ordered a large batch of Ka-52 attack helicopters (46 pieces) from Russia, as well as about 50 MiG-29M / M2 fighters. The exact number of the Antey-2500 air defense systems purchased by Egypt is unknown; according to some reports, we are talking about two divisions. At the same time, the cost of the supplied batch can be approximately $ 500 million.
Long-range anti-aircraft missile system S-300VM "Antey-2500" is an export version of the improved air defense system S-300V. The S-300VM mobile multichannel air defense system is designed to destroy modern and advanced strategic and tactical aircraft (including those made using the Stealth technology), operational-tactical and tactical missiles, medium-range ballistic missiles, cruise and aeroballistic missiles, as well as aircraft radar patrol and guidance, reconnaissance and strike complexes and loitering jammers.
According to the manufacturer's website (the Almaz-Antey concern VKO), the system is capable of simultaneously firing at 24 air targets (guided by 2-4 missiles at each target) at a maximum range of up to 250 km and at altitudes up to 25-30 km. The maximum speed of intercepted targets can be 4.5 thousand meters per second. A more advanced version of the system of this family is the S-300V4, which is currently being actively re-equipped by the Russian military air defense.
A contract was signed for the supply of two Be-200 amphibians to China
On June 26, 2017, in Taganrog, a contract was signed between PJSC "TANTK named after G. Beriev" and the Chinese company Leader Energy Aircraft Manufacturing Co. Ltd. for the supply of two Be-200 amphibious aircraft to China with an option for two more Be-200, according to the official website of the Russian enterprise. This contract became the development of the Memorandum of Understanding and Cooperation, which was signed during the International Aviation and Space Exhibition Airshow China 2016. In addition, a contract was signed in Taganrog for the supply of two more Be-103 amphibious aircraft to the PRC and the organization of their licensed production, creation a service center for the maintenance of amphibious aircraft and a school for training technical and flight personnel in the PRC.
According to experts, the value of the signed contract is at least $ 100 million (about $ 50 million per plane). It should be noted that China will become the second country in the world, apart from Russia, to receive this amphibious aircraft. Another such aircraft is operated by the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Azerbaijan. At present, Indonesia is also aware of the interest in the aircraft, which is ready to purchase from two to four aircraft of this type.
In the People's Republic of China, the task of fighting forest fires is quite acute, so the purchased Be-200 can be used for these purposes. Also, the planes will be able to carry passengers and cargo to remote regions of the country, for example, to Tibet, where there are enough clean lakes, but few airfields, experts say. Most likely, the Russian amphibious aircraft will also be partially investigated in the interests of the programs being implemented in the PRC. In particular, Beijing is currently developing the world's largest seaplane AG600. At the same time, it is created taking into account other requirements, it will be able to take off even with greater excitement than the Russian Be-200, therefore it will be preferable for work on the high seas and more suitable for the Chinese naval forces.
Bangladesh purchased five more Mi-171Sh helicopters
On June 13, in Dhaka, Rosoboronexport representative Dmitry Ageev and Deputy Chief of Staff of the Air Force of the People's Republic of Bangladesh, Vice-Marshal Naim Hassan, signed a contract for the supply of an additional batch of Russian military transport helicopters Mi-171SH to the country. This deal is part of the republic's policy to modernize its air force fleet. Among other things, these helicopters are planned to be used in UN peacekeeping operations.
Svetlana Usoltseva, press secretary of the Ulan-Ude Aviation Plant (part of the Russian Helicopters holding), reports that the construction of five Mi-171SH helicopters for the Bangladesh Air Force will begin by the end of 2017. The helicopters will be built as part of the agreement between Rosoboronexport and the military command of the Republic of Bangladesh. The amount of the signed contract is currently not disclosed. The press service of the Ministry of Industry and Trade of Buryatia stressed that this project is a continuation of long-term and mutually beneficial cooperation with the Ministry of Defense of Bangladesh in general and the Air Force of this country, in particular. It should be noted that earlier this Russian aircraft plant produced similar helicopters, in particular, for Ghana, Peru, and the Czech Republic.
The Mi-171SH helicopter is a military transport helicopter based on the Mi-171 (Mi-8AMT) and is produced at the Ulan-Ude Aviation Plant. The main purpose of this vehicle is the transportation and disembarkation of troops (up to 37 people with weapons and equipment), suppression of pockets of resistance in the disembarkation zone, transportation of goods weighing up to 4 tons in the cargo compartment and on external suspension elements, transportation of the wounded and sick (up to 12 people, accompanied by medical staff). The helicopter can be used quite effectively to destroy enemy firing points, manpower and armored vehicles. For the suspension of various means of destruction on the helicopter, special trusses with beam holders are installed.
The Belarusian army received T-72B3 tanks with additional protection
Despite the projects of modernization of T-72 tanks being developed by Belarusian enterprises, the Ministry of Defense of the country ultimately preferred the already worked out and standardized Russian version, especially equipped with a modern multi-channel gunner's sight of Belarusian production. According to the Belarusian TV channel VoentTV (the story was shown on June 2, 2017), the upgraded T-72B3 tanks entered service with the Belarusian army. The vehicles were solemnly handed over to the personnel of the 969 tank reserve base. The solemn event was attended by the Minister of Defense of the Republic of Belarus, Lieutenant General Andrei Ravkov, other representatives of the Ministry of Defense and the Armed Forces, as well as a delegation from Russia from JSC Scientific and Production Corporation Uralvagonzavod. New samples of armored vehicles were put into service under the current Agreement between the Republic of Belarus and the Russian Federation on military-technical cooperation, as well as in accordance with the State Armament Program for 2016-2020.
The upgraded T-72B3 tanks received a more powerful 1130 hp engine, as well as an improved armament system. Changes were also made to the armor of the tank, which was reinforced with side hull screens with removable modular protection kits. On one of the transferred tanks were placed "soft" hinged containers with reactive armor.
The new complex of guided armament of the tank guarantees a high probability of hitting a target from the spot and on the move at a distance of up to 5 kilometers, and the introduction of an automatic target tracking simplifies the work of the tank gunner, especially when firing on the move, as well as at moving targets. The tank also received a new 125-mm cannon 2A46M-5 with increased barrel survivability, a new multi-channel gunner's sight "Sosna-U" manufactured by the Belarusian OJSC "Peleng", a new VHF radio station R-168-25U-2 "Aqueduct", as well as a new fire-fighting equipment. Another novelty is a digital ballistic computer with a set of weather sensors, which is able to automate the process of preparing a shot and significantly increases the accuracy of firing from a tank gun.
Azerbaijan received a new batch of "Chrysanthemum-S"
A new batch of Chrysanthemum-S self-propelled anti-tank missile systems was delivered from Russia to Azerbaijan. As the Azerbaijani website az.azeridefence.com reported on June 24, 2017, a new batch (according to bmpd, this is a divisional kit) of 9K123 Chrysanthemum-S complexes, which were purchased by the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry, was delivered to Baku from Russia the day before. Combat vehicles arrived in Baku aboard the Russian sea ferry "Composer Rachmaninov".
The Azerbaijani Defense Ministry signed a contract with Rosoboronexport for the purchase of a batch of 9K123 Chrysanthemum-S self-propelled ATGM systems back in 2014, the delivery of the first batch of combat vehicles was carried out back in 2015. According to the bmpd blog, the new delivery is part of the resumed supplies of Russian-made weapons and military equipment to Azerbaijan under contracts already signed between the countries. Earlier, the supply of military equipment to the country was suspended for more than a year due to financial problems in Baku, but by now, as can be judged, the disagreements between Russia and Azerbaijan over payment for the supplied weapons have been resolved.
There is new information about the supply of MiG-29 fighters to Serbia
According to the bmpd blog, citing its own source in the military industry of the Southern Balkans, technicians from Serbia are currently undergoing training in Lipetsk in order to master the maintenance of the MiG-29 multipurpose fighter jets. At the same time, the delivery of 6 MiG-29 fighters from the presence of the Russian Aerospace Forces, the agreement on the transfer of which to Serbia was signed in 2016, is scheduled for July 2017. The Serbian military is currently investigating the most economical options for the delivery of aircraft.
At the same time, there are still certain problems with the implementation of this defense contract. In particular, today in Serbia there is a limited number of technical personnel suitable for servicing the MiG-29 fighter jet. It is only enough to service 4 existing MiG-29 fighters (one of which is in a non-flying state), but by the time 10 MiG-29s appear in Serbia, taking into account the Russian supply, the number of technicians must reach the required level. At the same time, Serbia today hardly manages to maintain the serviceability of two aircraft at the same time to carry out the country's air defense missions, as well as combat training of pilots. In the presence of three flying MiG-29s, it is very difficult to carry out combat training of pilots.
There are also difficulties with the modernization of the Moma Stanoilovic aircraft repair plant, which will soon take over the Serbian MiG-29 fighters for repair. At the same time, the repair of combat aircraft will be carried out with the direct assistance of Russia. This company will also have to carry out maintenance of Airbus H-145M helicopters at the second level (the machines themselves are to be delivered to Serbia in 2018), as well as repair Gazelle and Mi-17 helicopters. The Serbian Defense Ministry plans to modernize the plant, transforming it into a regional service center for helicopters of three types: Gazelle, H145M and Mi-17. Among other things, Serbia also expects to update the fleet of existing Mi-17 helicopters in the long term, but these costs were not provided for in the 2017 budget. It is assumed that the contract for the supply of 4 Mi-17V-5 helicopters to Serbia will be signed in 2018 or 2019.
