Russia in Dubai: Ilyushin Premiere, Missiles & SAMs

The opening day of Dubai Airshow 2023 saw the international premiere by Russia of the Il-76MD-90A(E) military transport aircraft, as well as of the brand-new aircraft-launched missiles and airdrop systems. The latest air defence systems are also on display.

"In 2023, we will present here for the first time the IL-76MD-90A(E) military transport aircraft, the latest air weapons for the fifth-generation fighters, including the RVV-MD2 and RVV-BD air-to-air guided missiles, the Kh-69 cruise missile, as well as the world's best Ka-52 attack helicopter with a line of air weapons, which has proven effective in countering modern armoured vehicles in real combat conditions," said Alexander Mikheev, Director General of Rosoboronexport.

The IL-76MD-90A(E) military transport aircraft, located in an outdoor static display area, is multifunctional and has been successfully used for a wide range of missions, including for special and airdrop operations, said the Russian special exporter. It can carry up to 60 tons of cargo to a distance of up to 4,000 km, and 20 tons – to 8,500 km. The aircraft is equipped with a multi-channel electro-optical sighting system to determine an airdrop area and control personnel and cargo airdrops, as well as the President-S defence system. Along with the IL-76MD-90A(E), Russia showcases various airdrop systems, including the Junker-DG-250 automated cargo delivery system for the first time in the Middle East.

Another Russian live product in Dubai is the Ka-52 combat helicopter, which is expected to show during the demonstration flights the elements of piloting available only for a coaxial helicopter: flat turn towards the target, lateral movements at high speeds and deep sideslip with a negative pitch angle.

In the air defence segment, Russia is exhibiting a wide range of air defence and electronic warfare systems, which can be used both independently and as part of a layered air defence system. They include the S-400 Triumf, S-350E Vityaz, Viking, Pantsir-S1M and Tor surface-to-air missile systems, as well as Igla-S and Verba MANPADS.

The Russian Aviation & Military Guide (RAMG) in its Dubai Airshow issue, distributed at the expo, has published a detailed analysis of the Tor short-range SAM's autonomous combat module version Tor-M2KM.

"Tor-M2KM has a significantly expanded area of application. It can be installed on a railway platform or a ship deck, which will provide reliable air defence cover for the transport of valuable cargo. The ability of the system to operate at sea and from the shoreline against targets flying over the sea has been proven in practice. This has been achieved thanks to the introduction of new algorithms for the combat operation of the computer system, which allows levelling of the impact of wave rolling. The module can be moved from one position to another with relative ease," RAMG reports.

Abandoning the chassis allowed a significant reduction in both the cost and weight of the system, the publication claims. The weight of the module is more than half of the basic tracked version and is only 15 tons. The Tor-M2KM can be lifted to the roof by a Mi-26 helicopter or a loading crane of appropriate lifting capacity.

In the unmanned aerial vehicles segment, the Orlan-30 unmanned aerial system the Orion-E reconnaissance/attack UAV and the KUB-E loitering munition are on display. The counter-UAV assets include the RB-504P-E, Repellent-Patrol, Argument-2 and Argument-3 systems, as well as the Pole-21E and R-330Zh electronic warfare systems for countering precision-guided munitions.

A new export product presented for the first time in Dubai is an integrated survival and self-defence system for aircrews of aircraft and helicopters who have ejected or found themselves on the ground after an emergency landing. A key element of the new system is a 5.56mm Kalashnikov AK-19 shortened assault rifle, presented abroad for the first time.