Russian firm eyes options in Middle East for ‘co-production’ of technology including 5th-gen fighters

Air battle

A prototype of the Russian Su-75 Chekmet fighter jet at the Dubai Air Show 2021. (Chyrine Mezher)

IDEX 2023 – As the war in Ukraine approaches its first anniversary, Russian defense firms plan to showcase their wares at the IDEX 2023 expo in the United Arab Emirates, hoping to attract Gulf states as customers or co-produce high-tech platforms. including fighter jets.

“We are actively working on very important cooperation proposals with Middle Eastern countries, mainly related to technology transfer, joint development and compensation programs,” said Alexander Mikheyev, CEO of Rosoboron Export, in a press release. February 16. “Rosoboronexport is considering various options for joint creation of modern high-tech products, including a fifth-generation fighter based on Checkmate light tactical aircraft, additional work in the development and production of air defense systems. Navy and weapons for the ground forces.”

The IDEX 2023 literature does not list Russia or Russian companies as exhibitors, but the release states that “the joint Russian exhibition at IDEX 2023 will be located in a separate pavilion.” Rosoboronexport and defense-industrial complex enterprises provide the latest high-tech military products to all branches of the armed forces.

In the statement, Mikheev said that he considers the countries of the Middle East as traditional partners of Russia and highlighted some of the work that Rosoboron Export has done in the region.

As for the Chekmet, Russia’s response to America’s fifth-generation fighters such as the F-22 and F-35, the aircraft will make its international debut at the Dubai Air Show 2021 in the United Arab Emirates. At the time, a company official revealed that he was in talks with three emirate entities, namely Tawazun Economic Council, Mubadala Investment Company and EDG Group, regarding the production of composite materials and telecommunications technology specifically for this aircraft. But since then, there has been no news regarding any possible agreements.

Christian Coates Ulrichsen, a Middle East fellow at Rice University’s Baker Institute, said IDEX 2023 would be an interesting test for demand for Russian goods after the Russian military crisis in Ukraine.

“The poor performance of many of Russia’s defense systems during the war in Ukraine has undermined Russia’s credibility as an arms supplier,” he said. “Participation in IDEX could be a way to try and regain some of the momentum lost in the past year, especially in the Middle East, Asia and Africa regional markets, which have been the focus of Russian trade and diplomacy. The activity in recent months”

He added that Russia may want to win back the trust of customers and arms supplier in the Gulf. From the perspective of the Gulf states, frustration with the US for not having access to the latest development aircraft such as the F-35 or other advanced electronic weapons could lead to renewed interest in Russian options.

“Years of US and other international sanctions have not stopped countries around the world, including close US political and security partners in the Gulf, from dealing with Russian companies, government and sanctioned entities,” Ulrichsen said.

There is also frustration in Gulf capitals over some of the restrictions imposed by Washington, including Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates’ earlier involvement in the conflict in Yemen.

“Political and defense officials in the Gulf have made it clear to the U.S. that it has options, and may expect U.S. policymakers to take steps to approve arms sales by dropping some restrictions. Fearing that the Gulf could lose the region to adversaries such as Russia or China.” He concluded.

Regardless of the outcome of the Russian pitch, IDEX 2023 is sure to be (relatively) interesting with US, European and Russian defense systems standing side-by-side here on the show floor, while the systems in Ukraine will really take each other on.