The international military-technical exhibition IDEX-2013 is in full swing. Representatives of more than 1100 firms and organizations from 59 countries of the world gathered in Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates). In addition, the exhibition has already been attended by tens of thousands of guests, including many officials from the armed forces of different countries. 40 organizations from Russia participate in the international salon, and the Minister of Industry and Trade D. Mansurov was noticed among the high-ranking officials. As can be seen from press reports, the Russian pavilion at IDEX-2013 has become one of the most popular objects of the exhibition. On the very first day of the event - February 17 - he was visited by the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who holds the post of Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE. A high-ranking visitor to the Russian pavilion thanked Russian industrialists for their regular participation in IDEX salons and noted that military-technical cooperation between Russia and the UAE should continue.
For the first time, a domestic T-90SM tank appeared at an exhibition in Abu Dhabi. It is interesting that the capabilities of the salon did not allow the Russian tank to “skate” the traditional demonstration program. For this reason, he drove only on the existing track without several obstacles. The passage along the "full-fledged" tank route was shown separately, in the video. Nevertheless, even with such a demonstration, the new T-90SM attracted the attention of visitors. Since this tank is an upgrade of an existing design, it may be of interest to some countries that already have export versions of T-90 armored vehicles.
Another exhibit from the Russian delegation that attracted attention was the BMPT tank support combat vehicle. This is not the first time this armored vehicle has been demonstrated at international salons and regularly receives the most flattering reviews. At the same time, potential buyers are still praising the Russian BMPT more than signing contracts. Russian defense industrialists remain hoping to get orders for a new type of equipment. It is reported that the BMPT is currently undergoing modernization and by the fall of this year, the updated car will be shown to the public. It will take place at the Russian Arms Expo 2013 in Nizhny Tagil.
Several news items are related to weapons designed to hit the enemy with an explosion and shrapnel. Thus, it was announced that the development of a new automatic grenade launcher AGS-40 "Balkan" was recently completed. In the coming months, it will pass all the necessary tests and will be put into mass production. In addition, new 40mm grenades are already ready for this weapon. Thanks to the increase in caliber, it was possible to increase the firing range to 2500 meters. Also of interest is the new S-80FP aviation unguided missile, which has higher characteristics compared to the existing ammunition of its class.
I am glad that even without the sale of BMPT vehicles, the Russian defense industry does not remain without orders and income. So, in the first two days of the IDEX-2013 show, customers and manufacturers from different countries signed several contracts for a total of almost $ 1.5 billion. At the same time, about 130 million accounts for only one contract between the armed forces of the United Arab Emirates and the Tula Instrument Design Bureau. Over the next three years, the Tula enterprise will supply four thousand Arkan guided missiles launched from the barrel of a launcher of BMP-3 combat vehicles. Before the end of the show, Russian companies will sign several more contracts.
In recent years, Ukraine has begun to participate in the IDEX salon. Ukrainian defense industry specialists also presented several interesting projects. First of all, it is worth noting the next version of the BTR-3 armored personnel carrier (the Ukrainian version of the BTR-80 modernization). The new armored vehicle is equipped with a Cockerill CSE 90LP twin turret with a 90-mm smooth-bore gun with low ballistics. In addition, additional protection modules can be seen in the photographs of the new armored personnel carrier. Reportedly, it is a composite armor made of steel, ceramics and polymers. It is reported that the updated BTR-3 can withstand an explosion of up to eight kilograms of TNT.
Another interesting project of an armored vehicle was presented by the Kremenchug Automobile Plant and Ares Security Vehicles LLC (UAE). Together they made an armored car of the MRAP class from the KrAZ-5233NE off-road truck. On a four-wheeled chassis with a YaMZ-238DE2 engine and a Chinese-made Shaanxi 9JS150TA-B gearbox, a specially designed armored module was installed to protect the vehicle's crew and ten passengers. The new armored car is intended for delivery to third countries and therefore the possibility of equipping it with any suitable engines or gearboxes has already been announced.
Other foreign countries also presented interesting projects at IDEX-2013. Perhaps the most notable novelty is the new multiple launch rocket system produced in the United Arab Emirates. It is a semitrailer tractor with a platform trailer, on which four launchers are placed with the ability to guide in two planes and with three packages of guides on each. Each package contains 19 guides in a caliber, presumably 122 mm. Thus, in one salvo, a new combat vehicle can fire 228 missiles at once towards the enemy. Despite the large number of missiles and the alleged effect of the salvo, most experts tend to view the new MLRS as a technical curiosity. A tractor with a trailer does not have very high cross-country ability, and the process of reloading all launchers will be too long for real combat conditions. Therefore, we can already say that the new multiple launch rocket system will remain a purely exhibition model.
The Chinese exposition presents more promising projects. First of all, new Chinese projects of unmanned aerial vehicles are worth attention. Three new projects - CH-91, CH-92 and CH-901 - have different purposes, but they were created using a number of common technologies. CH-91 is designed to perform reconnaissance and similar tasks, such as targeting and adjusting artillery fire, collecting information about the course of the battle, etc. CH-92 and CH-901 have a wider range of options. They can also carry out reconnaissance, but at the same time they are capable of carrying strike weapons. CH-92 can take on board up to 50-60 kilograms of payload, CH-901 - no more than three to five. The first of the Chinese drones (CH-91) has already been adopted by the PLA and is being mass-produced, while the rest are still in the testing stages.
Salon IDEX-2013 will close on Thursday, but already now its organizers are inclined to positive assessments. In their opinion, the event is useful not only for manufacturers and buyers of arms or military equipment, but also for the United Arab Emirates themselves. While different countries conclude contracts for the supply of military products, the UAE is forging relationships with leading arms manufacturers, and also indirectly benefits from filling hotels, etc. The Cultural Authority of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi currently estimates that this and three subsequent IDEX exhibitions will bring its treasury nearly $ 1.5 billion. With regard to international cooperation, such benefits are unlikely to be quantified and translated into monetary terms.
