- Dmitry Evgenievich, what percentage of the total Russian portfolio of defense orders falls on the countries of the Middle East?

- The export of arms in the countries of the Middle East has evolved over several decades and is traditional in nature. Today we can talk about about $ 2 billion a year - this is about 10-20% of the total. Our cooperation is moving steadily, this is not the first time we are participating in such exhibitions as Dubai Airshow 2019, and most importantly, we see prospects for expanding this cooperation.

- What is the share of aviation equipment in the structure of Russian exports to the countries of the region and what are its most popular samples in the region?

- Aviation and air defense account for approximately 40% of the total volume of exported weapons. Today we offer our newest Su-30 and Su-35 fighters, the upgraded MiG-29, as well as the MiG-35, Mi-28, Ka-52 combat helicopters, and, accordingly, transport and military transport helicopters from the Mi-17 series - almost the entire palette of helicopter technology. At the exhibition, we also present air defense equipment, which is very popular in the world today: our famous S-400 systems, the well-proven S-300 and a large palette of air defense systems that are designed to protect a local object - “Torahs”, “Buki” and “ Armor ". Today they are one of the most popular air defense systems that operate in both missile and cannon destruction mode.

- What new products and popular types of equipment do partners demonstrate for Russia at Dubai Airshow 2019 ?

According to the organizers of the exhibition, today there are more than 1.2 thousand participants from 63 countries. At the same time, as I said, Russia has been participating in the Dubai Airshow exhibition for decades. And, which is very important, today almost all organizations that carry out military-technical cooperation are located on our so-called Russian island. This is the state corporation Rostec and Rosobornexport, all the enterprises that are part of the United Aircraft Corporation - Sukhoi, MiG, Ilyushin, this is Almaz-Antey - manufacturer S-400, KRET Corporation ", Which deals with electronic warfare, and many others.

  • Mi-38 helicopter at the Dubai Airshow 2019 international air show
  • RIA News
  • © Alexander Melnikov

And it is very important that today we also brought full-scale samples. These are, for example, some types of civilian helicopters - first of all, the Mi-38 helicopter in the VIP version and the Ansat helicopter. But for those who are more interested in military equipment, the combat training Yak-130 is presented for the first time in the Emirates. A plane that has unique qualities. It is intended for training pilots, including those striving, so to speak, to improve their skills and fly already on planes of the fourth and fifth generations. This is a machine that is very in demand today. And of course, our Su-35, MiG-35 aircraft, helicopter equipment are presented at the exposition in the form of various interactive presentation materials. What is also important, today we are making a presentation of anti-drone tools. So today almost the whole palette that interests our customers is represented here.

- How do you assess the state and prospects of military-technical cooperation between Russia and the UAE? Are new contracts for air defense systems and for the modernization of the Pantsir air defense systems delivered earlier?

- We have been cooperating with the United Arab Emirates since 1987. At one time, a sufficiently large number of weapons, including infantry fighting vehicles, were delivered to this country. And probably a landmark project can be called the creation of the "Shell-C1." Today, the Emirates are armed with more than a dozen of these machines.

  • SAM "Shell-S"
  • RIA News
  • © Vitaly Belousov

They have proven themselves very well, but the time has come for their modernization. And today we are just discussing the issue of modernization of the "Shell", which are in the arsenal of the UAE. In this regard, the issue of creating special technical centers for the maintenance of air defense equipment and other, previously set, is also important. And taking into account the fact that the infrastructure in the Emirates is quite developed, such centers could be involved in servicing equipment, which was delivered as a whole to the countries of the region, that is, they could become regional centers.

- How is developing cooperation with Turkey on aviation issues? Are more active, substantive negotiations on the supply of Su-35 and / or Su-57 expected? Please tell us about projects for the joint development of a 4 ++ generation fighter and cooperation on a fifth generation fighter ...

- The Russian side is ready to work out the issue of supplying the Su-35 fighters to the Republic of Turkey in the event that we receive an official appeal. The question of the possibility of supplying the Su-57 is a longer term. If only because we have, as any state, the priority is the issue of fulfilling the state defense order, that is, meeting the needs of the national air force. As for the promising developments on the 4 ++ aircraft, we are conducting certain preliminary negotiations on this subject. Well, some, let’s say, trial consultations on a 5th generation airplane.

  • The fifth-generation Russian multifunctional fighter Su-57
  • RIA News
  • © Mikhail Voskresensky

Russia, like Turkey, has every opportunity to cooperate on this topic. I would like to note separately that today the Turkish military-industrial complex is developing very actively - our partners pay great attention to this issue. And since we have great achievements and the topic of creating a 5th generation aircraft we have practically solved, we could find forms of cooperation between our countries to create a new generation aircraft. But, in any case, this is a matter of the future.

- When can the final decision be made on the acquisition by Turkey of additional S-400 systems as an option to the existing contract? Will the negotiations that Turkey holds with the United States on the F-35 program affect the course of the dialogue on the second contract?

- The contract for the supply of S-400 systems is in the active phase, under implementation. Until the end of this year, we will conduct training for Turkish specialists, and this is not one dozen people. In the spring of the system will already be deployed, stand on combat duty. Thus, the contract will be executed. At present, no co-production organization is being conducted in Turkey - this is a certain prospect and subject to negotiations. As for future purchases, Turkey, naturally, as an independent state, independently makes a decision on this matter. Well, and we hope that such a contract will take place in the near future. At least we have that feeling.

  • Unloading of Russian S-400 systems at a Turkish airport
  • Reuters
  • © Turkish Military / Turkish Defense Ministry

- Are additional supplies of S-300 to Iran being discussed? Is the republic interested in buying the S-400, and is Tehran going to buy Russian offensive weapons after the UN Security Council has been lifted in 2020?

- Military-technical cooperation with Iran is currently limited by UN Security Council Resolution 2231 of 2015, so a more complete, say, military-technical cooperation can, of course, be organized after these restrictions are lifted. However, back in 2016, we supplied the IRI air defense system. The warranty period in 2018 has expired, so today, together with our Iranian partners, we carry out maintenance of this system as part of the creation of a special technical center. We did not discuss additional supplies of S-300 to Iran today. But, according to our information, Iran is interested in acquiring combat aircraft, helicopters and other equipment. So far, we are implementing the contracts that we concluded earlier and which relate to equipment that is not subject to the relevant UN sanctions. This is, above all, a technique that is designed to conduct radio monitoring, intelligence systems. In general, the equipment that does not belong to offensive weapons and, accordingly, does not fall under sanctions.

- In what direction will the military-technical cooperation with Damascus develop in the coming years? Are new contracts for the supply of weapons, military equipment and ammunition being discussed?

- Military-technical cooperation with Syria is developing systematically with us. We are currently in the process of implementing the contracts that were concluded earlier. This, first of all, concerns aviation and land issues. The prospects for further, broader cooperation will probably be worth discussing after the domestic political situation in Syria stabilizes.

- In September, Saudi Arabia missed a drone attack on its oil facilities. Is there any agreement with the Saudis on the supply of the Pantsir-S1 air defense missile system, which today is most suitable for destroying small-sized targets?

- With Saudi Arabia, we are discussing opportunities for the development of a national air defense system using Russian systems and systems "Shell-C1." By the way, this is a rather unique car, and it really has quite rare opportunities. This is the only combat vehicle in the world on the basis of which modern radar detection and tracking systems are located. At the same time, both missile and cannon weapons are used. That is a very multifunctional complex. Moreover, it is constantly being upgraded. This applies to both radar and missile weapons. Today, many countries are interested in this system. Already made about 15 applications.

  • Rosoboronexport JSC stand at the Dubai Airshow 2019 international air show
  • RIA News
  • © Alexander Melnikov

We also have such an anti-tank agent as the Cornet, which, as we say, scatters like hot cakes - there is a line behind it. So today, there’s a queue for the “Shell”. I believe that this kind of technology is the future. Partners from Saudi Arabia, respectively, are also interested in this technique.

- Against the background of the situation with Saudi Aramco, is there any interest in Russian means of fighting UAVs? Are Russian means of fighting drones in demand in the Middle East?

- In accordance with the appeal of the Saudi partners, the Russian side has repeatedly held various kinds of presentations of anti-drone complexes. We are currently expecting a reaction. I would like to note that at this exhibition we present quite serious cars, mobile centers, highly mobile centers for the fight against unmanned aerial vehicles: Sapsan-Bekas, Kupol, Taran - our new systems. Well, by the way, returning to the "Shell": cannon weapons work very well against drones, besides it is not as expensive as destroying UAVs with missiles - defeating drones with cannon weapons of the "Shell" is much cheaper.