Russia outlines defence export ambitions

05/07/11 By Vladimir Karnozov SOURCE:Flight International

Russia expects to sell military equipment worth $11 billion in 2011, with aviation activities likely to account for up to 50% of this total.

Sergei Kornev, head of the Rosoboronexport delegation at last month's Paris air show, said deliveries of Russian-made combat aircraft and air-launched weapons are continuing to Algeria, India and Vietnam.

Algerian pilots are in Russia being trained on the Yakovlev Yak-130 advanced jet trainer (below), with the aircraft likely to be delivered in 2011-12, while Vietnam has recently received four of its 20 new Sukhoi Su-30MK2s.

China has recently ordered 154 more AL-31F engines for its Su-27/30-series fighters, and is in negotiations to buy more to power its Chengdu J-20s.

Despite the RSK MiG-35's elimination from India's medium multi-role combat aircraft competition, Kornev said Rosoboronexport will continue to offer the type for around $10 million less than the larger Su-30MK. "The Sukhoi is a huge airframe and not every country needs this," he said. "Many would rather go for a smaller platform with lower cost."

Away from the combat aircraft sector, a delayed contract to supply Jordan with two stretched-fuselage Ilyushin Il-76MF transports should be fulfilled this year. Both airframes have been completed and are at the Ramenskoye aerodrome in Zhukovsky near Moscow. One has already finished factory- and customer-acceptance trials, and both should be delivered later this year.

Deliveries to the Chinese navy of Kamov Ka-31 radar pickets and additional Ka-28 anti-submarine warfare helicopters have been completed, while Russia and the USA are close to finalising a $350 million order to buy 21 Mil Mi-17 transports for Afghanistan. Deliveries of the Kazan-built aircraft should start next year.