OREANDA-NEWS. June 20, 2011. The 49th Paris Air Show is held at the suburbs of Paris, in Le Bourget, in the period from 20th to 26th June 2011. This air show is rightfully considered the oldest and most prestigious venue among other the aerospace exhibitions. The first display of aircraft in the French capital took place as early as in 1908. This year the exhibition in France will be the first to cross a historical centennial landmark.

Paris Air Show enters into its second century by breaking records in both numbers of participants and exhibits put on display.

At the Le Bourget exhibition site there are 28 national pavilions erected, and the Russian exposition is among ten biggest ones. On static display will be put Russian full-scale exhibits such as the newest Sukhoi Superjet 100 airliner and Be-200 amphibian aircraft, as well as a full-scale mock-up of the MS-21 airliner. Russian pilots plan to fly the Be-200 aircraft with a spectacular dropping of 12 tonnes of water in Russian flag colours.

Rosoboronexport, the sole Russian trade company for export and import of the whole range of military and dual-purpose end products, technologies and services, has been a regular participant in Paris air shows for many years. Its share in Russia's military exports currently amounts to 80 percent. Rosoboronexport is a leading exporter to the world arms market. It has built partner relations with more than 70 countries all over the world.

This year Rosoboronexport will present the best items of Russian weapons and military equipment to thousands of exhibitors, specialists and guests visiting  Paris Air Show through multimedia presentations, mock-ups, promotional events, videos, leaflets and posters.

Rosoboronexport firmly holds leading positions in the world combat aircraft market thanks to cutting edge products of the Russian aviation industry. Russia is the world's second exporter of combat aircraft judging by numbers of new and upgraded multi-role fighters delivered for export. Last year the largest amount of foreign military sales made by Rosoboronexport fell as usual to air systems. Their share exceeded 43 percent of the total sales.

While implementing the ongoing aviation contracts with India, China, Indonesia and Vietnam, Rosoboronexport tries to establish mutually beneficial contacts with new partners.

Russian arms have always been distinguished by their reliability, effectiveness, fire power, and quality. These features are the main drivers making products of the Russian defence industry attractive to states in nearly all continents.

It is not without reason that today’s leading international experts consider the Su-35 aircraft to be Russia's main military air system for export in the next decade. It is a multi-role super-manoeuvrable fighter of the fourth-double-plus generation. The aircraft is designed to gain air superiority and engage ground and surface targets under any weather conditions both day and night. Its design and production make use of the 5th generation air technologies providing a leading edge over foreign fighters of the same class. Russia has already begun series production of these unique aircraft, and will soon enter them into service with air force units.

One of the most important competitive advantages of the Su-35 fighter is its cost. Compared with competing bids, cost parameters for this aircraft are more attractive to customers because of better cost effectiveness.

The Russian Air Force continues successful adoption of the Yak-130 new combat trainer aircraft. This aircraft is a highly efficient low-cost training facility designed for preparing modern fourth-plus/fifth generation fighter pilots.

The Yak-130 cockpit equipped with large (6x8 inch) multifunctional colour displays is fully compliant with the "glass cabin" concept, while its controls conform to the HOTAS specification.

The Yak-130 aircraft has an important capability of simulating real combat situations. Its multifunctional display presents simulated real-time radar target markers, equipment failure warnings, and so on.

The Yak-130 airframe has service life of 10,000 flight hours, and its calendar lifetime is 30 years. The aircraft is operated according to the on-condition criteria, which allows a significant reduction in operational costs. For example, the Yak-130 operational cost is six to seven times lower than that of the MiG-29UB aircraft. The Yak-130 trainer can be employed also as an effective light combat aircraft.

The Be-200 amphibian aircraft has earned an excellent reputation of the most efficient and capable airborne fire-fighter with devastating forest fires. It demonstrated its advanced capabilities for the first time abroad as early as in 2001. Since then it has been frequently used to fight fires in many countries, such as Italy, Greece, Indonesia, Portugal, Malaysia (Kalimantan), and others. Three Italian pilots who flew together with Russian crews can testify to the reliability, manoeuvrability and robustness of the Be-200 aircraft. This amphibian can take in its water load (12 tonnes) not only when stationed at the airfield, but also when gliding over a water basin at a speed of 200 km/h and scooping water within a few seconds. It drops water in volleys precisely onto seats of fire.

Russia has long been considered a leader in helicopter building. Since 1950 65,000 helicopters have been produced in the world overall. Our country has manufactured 26,000 helicopters and exported 6,000 of them.

Modern production of Russian helicopter grows annually by 20-30 percent, and according to realistic forecasts by 2015 Russia will come to control up to 15 percent of the world helicopter market.

At present Russian helicopters are delivered under Rosoboronexport's contracts to India, Azerbaijan, Venezuela, Egypt, Brazil, Peru, Indonesia, and other countries.

Customers show great interest in the Mi-28NE helicopter which is capable of performing assigned missions day and night in any weather conditions. The helicopter is equipped with a new-generation integrated avionics suite. Reliable armour protection of the flight cabin and vital assemblies as well as redundancy of major onboard systems allow the Mi-28NE helicopter to operate with great effectiveness under intensive enemy counteraction. Thanks to the powerful armament the Mi-28NE helicopter can render strong fire support to ground units by engaging enemy armoured materiel and manpower, hardened installations as well as above-water and low-speed aerial targets.

The Mi-35M will become one of the world's best multi-purpose combat helicopters in the years to come. More than 1,250 helicopters of this type have been exported to nearly 40 countries for the last 20 years, and this fact testifies to their world popularity.

Versatility is the main feature of the Mi-35M helicopter. Besides combat missions, it can effectively perform assault, transport, medical evacuation, air reconnaissance and other tasks.

In the assault version the helicopter can carry up to eight fully equipped troops, and in the medevac version - four patients (two in seats and two on stretchers) with one medical assistant. In the transport version it can ship cargoes weighing up to 2,400 kg on the external sling suspension, or up to 1,500 kg inside the cargo compartment.

The Mi-35M helicopter performs combat missions with high effectiveness thanks to the powerful weapons arsenal carried on board. It is on a par with the Western counterparts in this respect, but greatly outperforms them in cost effectiveness.

The Mi-26T2 is a new modification of the world-famous Mi-26T transport helicopter. This is a heavy-lift helicopter designed to transport troops and cargoes, evacuate casualties and fight fires, as well as mount bulky equipment and erect bridges, electric power transmission lines, oil derricks, and so on. The Mi-26T2 helicopter can carry equipment and bulky cargoes weighing up to 20 tonnes inside its cargo compartment and on the external sling, up to 82 persons in seats or up to 60 casualties on stretchers. It is the world's heaviest-lift transport helicopter whose capabilities are comparable to those of the US C-130 Hercules military transport aircraft.

The Mi-26T2 helicopter features a glass cabin fitted with five multifunctional liquid crystal displays, two control panels and a set of electromechanical backup instruments. Its advanced integrated avionics suite enables day/night operations of the helicopter in fair and restricted weather conditions. This has allowed crew reduction from five to two persons. The crew is complemented with one additional operator for transporting cargoes suspended on the external sling.

The Ka-226 light multi-purpose helicopter is designed for carrying out day and night reconnaissance/surveillance, artillery fire adjustment, target acquisition/designation in cooperation with attack helicopters, transportation of rapid deployment forces and cargoes, evacuation of wounded personnel, air patrolling, and column escorting missions.

The Ka-226T helicopter co-axial rotor system provides advanced flight characteristics and gives an edge over other helicopters, especially when flying in highland areas. Small-diameter main rotors and high-rated power plant enable the helicopter to fly effective missions even in confined spaces.

The helicopter features a modular design allowing its fast retrofit to specific missions. It takes 20-30 minutes at the most for two persons to replace modules in field/aerodrome conditions.

The Ka-226T helicopter is a simple air platform designed for convenient and comfortable transportation of cargoes and passengers. It is flown by one pilot, and there is one workplace onboard provided for second pilot.

"First of all, Paris Air Show is a meeting point for businesses to discuss matters of international cooperation in combat and civil aviation areas, - said Sergei Kornev, head of the Rosoboronexport delegation. - Our delegation has a tight schedule of business meetings and discussions with foreign partners at which we will consider a wide range of issues on military technical cooperation. I am confident that our work will contribute to the progress and furthering of our relations with Russian arms buyers, and will lay the foundation for concluding new contracts".