No Russian Flying Displays At Paris Air Show, Customers Invited to MAKS Event Instead

Rosoboronexport has invited prospective customers of its military aircraft and helicopters to the MAKS -Moscow air show in August this year, as sanctions against Russia prevent it from displaying military hardware at the Paris Air Show currently underway.

“During the Paris Air Show 2019, Rosoboronexport will hold meetings and negotiations with partners from around the world. Unfortunately, due to unfair competition with respect to Russian weapons, we will not be able to please Le Bourget’s guests with bright performances by our stunt pilots and full-scale military hardware items. But we invite all connoisseurs of the highest quality equipment and masterful performance of aerobatic programs to the MAKS Air Show in Zhukovsky, near Moscow, which will be held in August this year,” said Alexander Mikheev, Director General of Rosoboronexport, the Russian arms export agency.

Among the static displays are Su-35 and Su-30SME multi-role super-maneuverable fighters, MiG- 29M/M2 multifunctional front-line fighter and Yak-130 combat training aircraft, the company said in a statement Monday.

The new Ilyushin Il-112VE light military transport aircraft, as well as other aircraft that have recently received an export permit like the Su-32 fighter-bomber, the Il-78MK-90A tanker aircraft, and the Il-76MD-90A(E) military transport aircraft will be unveiled at the Paris Air Show.

Among the Russian-made helicopters, the Ka-52 reconnaissance/attack helicopter, the Mi-28NE attack helicopter, the Mi-35M transport/attack helicopter, the Mi-171Sh and Mi-17-V5 military transport helicopters, the Ka-226T day/night light utility helicopter and Mi-26T2 heavy transport helicopter, etc can be seen.

Other Russian defense hardware that will be available at the airshow includes Orion-E, Orlan-10E and Tachyon unmanned aerial systems, electronic warfare systems like the Repellent for countering small-sized UAVs and the Pole-21E ECM system’s jamming modules for protecting ground installations from attacks by smart weapons, air defense systems such as the S-400 Triumph ADMS, the Viking and Tor-M2E SAM systems, Pantsir SPAAGM, and Igla-S and Verba MANPADS.