Russians at Defexpo India 2012 exhibition

Starting with the first event in 2000, Russian companies have featured regularly in the Defexpo India exhibition, which is one of the most important in the Asia-Pacific region. In 2011 this region accounted for 43% of Rosoboronexport’s export deliveries, and India continues to head the list of the biggest importers of Russian weapons.

“In recent years the pressure from our competitors has intensified. This is an objective process: the Indian market is very attractive for manufacturers. True, the terms for tendering here are indeed tough. Therefore the fact that we are winning a significant proportion of these tenders speaks both of the high quality of Russian products and also of the effectiveness of our marketing policy,” noted Viktor Komardin, deputy general director of Rosoboronexport and head of its delegation at the exhibition.

The main event at this exhibition is a demonstration of the modernised T-90S tank. The Uralvagonzavod corporation has created a separate stand to display its latest development. This will feature a life-size model of the latest tank, presented in the context of a desert landscape. This spectacular presentation for foreign delegations, which uses the latest multimedia technologies, was developed with help from experts at Rosoboronexport.

The main area of modernisation for the tank is its new turret. It is equipped with the latest automatic fire control system, a more accurate 125 mm gun, a remote-controlled 7.62 mm machine gun, and a new dynamic defence system which provides a substantially greater level of protection against all existing anti-tank guided missiles, and also additional protection against high-accuracy weapons, shells and mines. Thanks to the installation of a stabilised panoramic sight for the commander, a multi-channel sight for the gunner and an all-round video observation system, the automatic fire control system makes it possible to detect, identify and destroy targets both when stationary and mobile at any time of the day or night.

The manoeuvrability of the tank has been substantially improved by the introduction of an automatic transmission and power traverse from the steering controls. The modernised T-90S has been fitted with a 1,130 hp diesel engine. In addition, it has an auxiliary diesel generator unit to provide the tank with power while parked, which not only reduces fuel consumption but also significantly reduces the vehicle’s visibility in infrared radiation. The designers have also succeeded in preserving the traditional advantage of Russian tanks – low weight and small dimensions. With all its features the modernised T-90S is the best tank on the international market today.

Rosoboronexport specialists are expecting that the modernised T-90S’s debut at the Defexpo India exhibition will generate heightened interest among foreign delegations and that in the future it will account for a substantial proportion of “land weapons” contracts.

Experts will be able to familiarise themselves with the wide range of Russian arms and military equipment on the Rosoboronexport stand, where an interactive exhibition system will be used to demonstrate the potential of a range of models. It will be shown for the first time in India. Thanks to the fact that the system has been created on the basis of new trainer technologies, its use at exhibitions makes it possible to specify a military scenario and to model tactical actions in a real-time environment.

“In terms of land equipment, of course, all eyes will be on the modernised T-90S, but I would also like to mention another new product – the latest Kornet-EM anti-tank missile system, which we are offering on the Tiger armoured car platform among others. As for naval equipment, we have the Amur-1650 submarine, for which a radically new engine – an air-independent propulsion plant – is coming to the end of its trials. Of course, we are expecting heightened interest in effectively all Russian air defence systems,” said Viktor Komardin.

During the exhibition there are also plans to address the question of modernising previously supplied T-72 and T-90S tanks. Rosoboronexport is offering an integrated modernisation which will make it possible to substantially increase all the main combat characteristics of the vehicles – firepower, protection and mobility.

Rosoboronexport offers:

Infantry equipment and weapons: Tiger armoured cars, the Kornet-EM anti-tank missile system, the BMPT tank support fighting vehicle, the BMP-3M infantry fighting vehicle, the BTR-80A armoured personnel carrier, the Smerch multiple rocket launcher, the Nona SVK self-propelled artillery weapon, the SAU Msta-S, the Khrizantema-S self-propelled anti-tank system, the Vena self-propelled automated artillery system, the BREM family of armoured recovery vehicles, and a wide range of close combat weapons and ammunition.

Naval equipment: Amur-1650 and Project 636 diesel-electric submarines, Gepard 3.9 and Project 22356 frigates, Tigr and Project 11356 guard ships, the Tornado small missile (artillery) ship, the Mirazh, Mangust and Sobol fast boats, and various ship-borne weapon systems and maritime surveillance systems.

Air force equipment: the Mi-28NE attack helicopter, the Ka-226T multi-purpose helicopter, the Ka-31 radar surveillance helicopter, Mi-17-type military transport helicopters, the Il-76MD military transport plane and the Il-78MK refuelling tanker plane.

Air defence systems: the Buk-M2E, Pechora-2M and Tor-M2E air defence missile systems, the Antei-2500 air defence missile weapon system, the Pantsir-S1 air defence missile and cannon system, the Igla-S portable air defence system, and a wide range of radar systems.

At the centre of attention:

The Amur-1650: Thanks to the latest hydroacoustic system, and also its small signature due to its reduced level of sound and its smaller water displacement in duel situations with the previous generation of submarines the Amur-1650 can locate its target sooner and track it while remaining unnoticed. Its powerful and balanced weapons system includes modern torpedoes and cruise missiles of various types, with the possibility of launching them in volleys. The Amur-1650 submarine is capable of fulfilling an objective that is new for non-nuclear submarines – to destroy land-based targets with highly accurate long-range missiles. Only Russia is offering such missiles for export to date.

The submarines can be fitted with an air-independent propulsion plant (AIPP) based on an electrochemical generator and reforming of diesel fuel. This type of AIPP makes it possible to obtain hydrogen on board in the quantities required for maintaining underwater navigation, which removes the need to store an explosive product on the submarine and also the need to have a complex and expensive onshore infrastructure.

The Kornet-EM: The latest system, which meets the requirements of future anti-tank missile systems. The incorporation of automated target tracking into the Kornet-EM has effectively implemented the principle of “fire and forget” and has also increased the accuracy of target tracking and the kill probability across the full range of distances. The Kornet-EM’s range of fire, depending on the ammunition type, is between 8 and 10 km. The armour-piercing capability of the missile with a shaped-charge warhead is up to 1100–1300 mm. The possibility of firing a salvo of two missiles at the same target enables guaranteed penetration of all existing active defence systems for armoured vehicles. The new system can also strike airborne targets (unmanned aerial vehicles, helicopters, ground attack aircraft), which qualitatively increases the potential of units in combat.

The Antei-2500: The multi-channel mobile air defence missile system can efficiently engage not only the full range of aerodynamic targets but also ballistic missiles launched from a distance of up to 2,500 km and flying at a speed of up to 4,500 metres per second. Since the system includes its own all-round surveillance and sector-specific target identification radars, the Antei-2500 is capable of acting independently, without the use of data from the radar field or from missile attack warning systems. The latest version of the air defence missile system, with its range of fire increased to 350 km, is being shown at the exhibition for the first time.

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