Russia wants partnerships in the Middle East to produce the Su-75 Checkmate fighter
Russia is still trying to find customers and partners to develop new weapons amid the economic sanctions of the major economies of the West.
After participating in Aero India, the largest aerospace event in India, Rostec, Russia's state-owned defense company, said it will organize a major exhibition at IDEX 2023, the world's largest defense and security exhibition, which takes place from February 20 to 24 in Abu Dhabi. , in the United Arab Emirates.
The plan is to close new joint projects with countries in the Middle East, which are interested in expanding investments in military technology.
Among the Russian products being considered is the 5th generation Sukhoi Su-75 "Checkmate" fighter. The Su-57-derived aircraft was designed as a low-cost, export-oriented stealth single-engine fighter.
Although a full-size mockup was unveiled in July 2021, Checkmate doesn't even have a prototype ready. Rostec's expectation is to carry out the inaugural flight in 2024, but the invasion of Ukraine may overturn this complicated goal since the focus has been on producing more aircraft to make up for losses on the battlefield.
“Middle East countries are Russia’s traditional and important partners. Rosoboronexport is implementing a lot of military-technical cooperation projects in the region,” said Rosoboronexport’s Director General Alexander Mikheev, the export company responsible for the Russian exhibition.
In addition to the Su-75, Russia will present the Ka-52E and Mi-28NE attack helicopters and the Mi-171Sh military transport helicopter. There will also be a full-size model of the civilian Ka-226T helicopter in an outdoor area, Rosoboronexport said.
Despite informing its participation in IDEX, the Russian state-owned company is not officially listed as exhibitors. Like India, countries in the Middle East have maintained a friendly relationship with the government of Vladimir Putin, despite not supporting the invasion of Ukraine.
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