GABORONE, BOTSWANA – Russian state-owned arms exporter Rostec Corporation says it earned $14.5 billion from global equipment deliveries that included helicopters, fighter jets, navy vessels, battle tanks and advanced aerial defense systems to meet demand from African armed forces modernization programs.
In an interview with the TASS news agency, Rostec Corporation head Sergei Chemezov said despite the ‘difficult geopolitical realities’caused by international sanctions against Russia following its annexation of Crimea early in 2014, global arms sales have grown three-fold, ending 2016 at $14.5 billion or a quarter of annual global arms sales.
Chemezov said by the end of 2016, Rostec had delivered two out of the14 Sukhoi Su-30MKA fighter jets to Algeria in terms of a contract signed late in 2015. Developed specifically for Algeria, the Su-30MKA is an advanced version of the Su-27 ‘Flanker’ with modifications such as extended operating range, air-to-air and air-to-ground strike capabilities, and the use of precision guided munitions (PGMs).
Algeria already operates 44 Su-30MKAs. In 2015, Algeria acquired six Mil Mi-26T2 helicopters and in 2016, the army ordered eight more which are due for delivery between 2017-18.
By end of 2016, Russia had also delivered six of the 42 dual-control Mi-28NE combat helicopters ordered by Algeria in December 2013. Russia also partially fulfilled an order of 38 Pantsir S1 short-to-medium range surface-to-air missile systems to Algeria.
Chemezov said neighboring Egypt received the first of 50 (MikoyanGurevich) MiG-29 fighter jets ordered late in 2015 as part of an arms deal package estimated at US$5 billion. The remainder of the fighter jet order will be delivered in batches between 2017 and 2020, Chemezov said.
By October 2016, the company had also delivered the first batch of 28 advanced ‘President S’ Onboard Defense Systems (ODS) to Egypt, to protect helicopters and fighter jets from both ground and airborne attacks.
Chemezov said late in December 2016, Russia delivered the first two of12 Mil Mi-35M multi-purpose attacks helicopters to the Nigerian Air Force (NAF). The remaining units of the helicopter, which features latest navigation and avionics technology as well as operability in rugged terrain and high temperature zones, are due for delivery by end of 2018.
In 2016, Russian Helicopters completed a wide range of maintenance and upgrading works on 41 Egyptian Air Force Mi-8T and 3 Mi-17-1V rotor-craft. Further deliveries of Mil-Mi-17 and Mi-25M helicopters, in attack and transport configuration, are expected to Mali and the Sudan by 2018.
Rostec Corporation’s African tank exports expanded in 2016 with the delivery of 60 units of the T-72 Main Battle Tank (MBT) to Uganda. The revamped T-72 MBT looks set to make a big return to Africa following a Sudanese order of 172 units in November 2016. Although he declined to give the exact number, Chemezov said in 2016, Algeria received several units of the 200, T-90-SA MBTs ordered in 2014. The T-90SA is an upgraded version of the Soviet-era T-72 tank.
The tank features a 125 mm 2A46 smooth-bore tank gun, an upgraded engine and thermal sights. In addition Russia supplied Algeria with a batch of Shtora-1 optical-electronic counter-measures system, which is designed to protect the T-90 tanks against high-explosive rounds and anti-tank guided missiles (ATGM).
@Moroka
