• Home
• /
• Local business

Russia to expand civil, military ties with UAE

To offer commercial aircraft, copters for civil use

Abu Dhabi — Russia is keen to upgrade its present cooperation with the UAE in civil and military areas in a significant way, a top official of the Russian Ministry of Trade and Industry said.

“Russia views the UAE as a priority strategic business partner in the Middle East and intends to actively develop economic and trade cooperation,” a spokesperson of the ministry seeking anonymity told Khaleej Times on the sidelines of Idex. Five-day defence exhibition will conclude today.

People walk past a stand showcasing Russian tank at the exhibition. 

In the field of civil aviation Russia was ready to offer commercial aircraft — SSJ 100, MS-21, helicopters for civil use — Mi-8/17, Ka-32A11BC, ANSAT, and assist in after-sales service. There is a substantive interest in the UAE for combat trainer aircraft Yak-130, he said.

In addition, Russia is interested in supplying energy and gas-pumping equipment. Also Russia is keen on doing projects  in the areas of  transmission lines construction and other energy projects, he said.

“We are interested to cooperate with Emirati partners, in the joint development of new industrial parks, as well as to attract potential residents into the parks that are already created,” he said.

“We are working on the idea of creating a logistics centre in the UAE for Russian products,” he said.

Meanwhile, Russian Industry and Trade Minister Denis Manturov said the joint development of 57-mm artillery system would open new avenues of bilateral cooperation. The minister pointed out that Russia and the UAE intend to continue the joint development of combat military hardware.

He said that Russian is not only a reliable supplier of military machines but is deeply interested in setting up joint ventures with the UAE partners to develop new products and new services.

“In particular, we are now demonstrating a 57-mm artillery gun to be installed on a wheeled 8x8 chassis independently developed by UAE,” said the Head of the Industry and Trade Ministry.

The universal gun mount A-220M was created at CCRI Burevestnik. This high-performance gun is capable of hitting air and ground targets. The anti-aircraft gun can be mounted on upgraded and new military vehicles.

On the first day of Idex-2015, the UAE Armed Forces awarded a deal valuing Dh22 million to Russia’s KBP Instrument Design Bureau for providing technical support for anti-armour weapons.In addition to the already existing projects, cooperation with the UAE in aviation is also vigorously negotiated, he said, without elaborating.

“Now we are discussing possible projects in this area and I believe we’ll find a solution,” noted Manturov.

Russia has also “focused on developing multi-faceted cooperation with the nations of Latin America, Asia Pacific, Africa and Middle East,” which further increases the significance of Russia’s participation in IDEX-2015, currently underway in the UAE, he said.  

The number of Russian exhibitors and exhibits on display at IDEX increases with each passing year, he said, adding “We consider this exhibition a good venue for promoting our products in the markets of third parties interested in our combat hardware.”

— haseeb@khaleejtimes.com