At the end of March, the Chilean capital Santiago hosted the international aerospace exhibition FIDAE 2014. During this event, over 370 companies from 35 countries showed their new developments in the aviation and space sectors. Russia was represented at the Chilean exhibition by 14 organizations, 10 of which brought 163 exhibits. The FIDAE International Aerospace Show is the largest such event in South America and is a convenient platform for promoting products to the South American market.
The importance of FIDAE 2014 is clearly demonstrated by the number of participating companies from the leading countries of the world and the region. Thus, 77 companies and organizations from the USA took part in the exhibition, the Brazilian industry was represented by 37 companies, and the owners of the salon - Chileans - prepared a joint exposition of 27 companies. More than a hundred aircraft of various classes, which arrived from 13 countries, were demonstrated at the static parking lot.
10 Russian companies presented their developments at stands with a total area of about 500 sq. M. The Russian exposition included mock-ups, real samples and advertising materials on existing and promising projects of aviation and space technology. Both military and civilian developments were presented at the stands of Russian companies.
According to the United Aircraft Corporation, Sukhoi and its subsidiaries have continued to promote the SSJ100 passenger aircraft at FIDAE 2014. Thus, at the stand of the joint venture SuperJet International, a model of the SuperJet 100 aircraft in the livery of the Mexican airline Interjet was presented. This company already operates five Russian-made aircraft, and recently the sixth was transferred to it. In the future, it is planned to sign contracts for the supply of aircraft with other air carriers in Central and South America, and the FIDAE cabin is seen as a convenient platform for promoting a new passenger car.
Mi-171A2
Ka-32A11BC
Mi-35M
The countries of South America currently operate several hundred Soviet and Russian-made helicopters. The Russian Helicopters holding intends to maintain the presence of Russian equipment in the region. So, at the FIDAE 2014 exhibition, the organization presented the commercial multipurpose helicopters Mi-171A2 and Ka-32A11BC, as well as the combat Mi-35M. The Mi-171A2 helicopter is a continuation of the line of rotary-wing aircraft, leading its history from the legendary Mi-8. The new helicopter is equipped with modernized engines and improved avionics. In particular, it has the so-called. glass cockpit. The Ka-32A11BC helicopter can be used in various rescue operations. For example, 40 different machine options can be used to extinguish fires. Helicopters of this type were used in firefighting in Indonesia last summer and have proven themselves well.
The company "Satellite communication system" Gonets "" presented the development of the same name by JSC "Information satellite systems" named after Academician M. F. Reshetnev. A model of the new communication satellite "Gonets-M" was presented at the company's stand. An unpleasant incident was associated with this Russian development. Within the framework of the FIDAE 2014 exhibition, the head of the organization responsible for the operation of the "Messenger" communication system, D. Bakanov, had to conduct a five-minute presentation. Nevertheless, the organizers of the international salon canceled the presentation, motivating it with a number of appeals from foreign companies. Foreign organizations complained that the Messenger system works in the interests of Russia and asked to cancel its presentation.
In general, the international aerospace exhibition FIDEA 2014 cannot be called large and strategically important for the domestic aviation and space industry. Nevertheless, such platforms for promoting products to the South American market are of certain interest to Russia. Rosoboronexport and the Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation (FSMTC) continue to increase the volume of contracts for the supply of weapons and equipment to foreign countries. South America is an interesting and promising market worth fighting for.
On the eve of the start of the Chilean aerospace show, the head of the FSMTC A. Fomin spoke about the work and plans of export organizations. According to him, in the first months of this year, Russia sold weapons and equipment worth 2 billion US dollars. For comparison, the total volume of contracts for the entire last year reached 15.7 billion. At the same time, the existing portfolio of export orders exceeds $ 47 billion.
Shell-C1
In the near future, the portfolio of orders should be replenished with one more contract. Negotiations are now underway with Brazil for the supply of Pantsir-S1 anti-aircraft missile and cannon systems. Earlier, the Brazilian leadership said that Russian-made anti-aircraft systems will be used to ensure the security of the upcoming World Cup, which will be held in June this year. Now the parties are discussing the details of the new contract, and the Brazilian military is getting acquainted with Russian equipment. An agreement on the supply of anti-aircraft systems will be signed in the very near future.
Not so long ago, Brazil announced the results of the F-X tender, in which a Su-35 fighter from Russia participated. By decision of the military and political leadership of the country, in the future, the Brazilian Air Force will receive the Swedish Saab Gripen NG fighters. Despite this, the Russian aviation industry does not intend to abandon further cooperation with the Brazilian military. The head of the FSMTC noted that the proposal for the joint development of a promising fifth-generation fighter based on the PAK FA project is still in force. Negotiations on this issue should continue in the near future.
Chile is a promising partner of Russia in South America. This state needs modern aviation technology, and the Russian industry is ready to fulfill orders. In the foreseeable future, Rosoboronexport and representatives of the official Santiago will continue negotiations on the supply of helicopters of various types. It should be noted that Russia and Chile were already going to sign contracts for the supply of helicopters, but these plans were prevented by the earthquake that happened in February 2010. The South American state was forced to significantly reduce the cost of purchasing new equipment and redirect the released funds to aid the victims and restore infrastructure. After several years, Chile can again pay enough attention to the purchase of new aircraft. The subject of future contracts may be not only multifunctional helicopters, but also combat aircraft of various types and classes.
The possible signing of contracts for the supply of aircraft to Chile will be an important step in promoting Russian products on the South American market. Russia cooperates in the fields of military equipment and commercial aviation with a number of states in the region, for example, Cuba, Brazil, Nicaragua, Peru, etc. In doing so, however, Chile buys most of the equipment from the United States. Thus, Russian enterprises will still have to compete for a share in the Chilean market. The situation around the presentation of the Gonets satellite communication system can be considered the first proof of this. Apparently, the request of foreign companies can be considered an attempt to create difficulties for a direct competitor.
For Russian companies, the FIDAE 2014 exhibition did not become a place for signing large contracts. Nevertheless, during this event, 10 Russian organizations engaged in the production of aviation and space technology, as well as various equipment, had the opportunity to demonstrate their developments to potential buyers. Thanks to this, negotiations on the supply of one or another product may begin in the very near future. Despite the lack of new contracts, the FIDAE Chilean Aerospace Show is of great interest as it is the "key" to the promising South American market.
