Russian military aviation potential shown off at Farnborough
Over 60 Russian companies are participating in the Farnborough International Airshow in the UK this year with Russia looking to show off its military export potential, but plane makers aren't flying their products.
Russia’s military holding Rosoboronexport’s paid for an exclusive stall next to the runway, away from other exhibitors at Farnborough this week.
It reflects the company’s soaring confidence, boasting no other country’s doubled military exports this century, as Russia has to 6.1 billion dollars.
The country’s top 3 – Sukhoi, Irkut and MiG – are all holding bullish conferences at Farnborough.
However the Kremlin’s incorporation of the firms into a United Aircraft Corporation has raised fears of less responsive and dynamic operators, fears shared by Aleksey Fedorov, President of the UAC himself.
Yes, it’s correct, but we’re also investing a lot of money and resources to upgrade our industry, and I think we’ll be successful.
Not a single Russian plane’s expected to fly here this week, the makers claim they’re too busy testing and upgrading.
It’s a stark contrast to the world’s top exporter, the US Air Force, which is showing, but not selling.
It’s brought over the F22, said by some to be the only plane better than Sukhoi’s new Su-35. But America claims the world’s only 5th generation fighter is too dangerous to export. Georganne Schultz, Spokeswoman, U.S. Air Force says
It's such a new aircraft that we're still learning all its capabilities and how they're going to work as a composite force. So, we're really getting a handle on the program.
Russia’s more than happy to fill the gap, Rosoboronexport’s $20 bln order book is filled to 2015.
This is the first F22 to perform at a trade show across the Atlantic, but it’s strictly for show not for export. In fact maker Lockheed Martin was outsold on export last year 51:40 by Russia’s Sukhoi. The government hopes that the consolidation through the United Aircraft Corporation will help, not hinder, those impressive results.