OREANDA-NEWS.  The company Rosoboronexport plans to increase the presence of Russian military equipment in Latin America. During FIDAE-2014, the company will discuss cooperation with representatives of the armed forces of Argentina, Brazil, Columbia, Peru, Uruguay, Chile, and other countries in the region.

FIDAE-2014, the international exhibition of military and aerospace engineering, will take place in Santiago from March 25-30, 2014. There Rosoboronexport plans to increase its contacts with Chilean partners and continue developing a productive dialogue with Latin American countries concerning topics such as industrial cooperation.

“Russia’s presence in the Latin American market will only expand. We work with practically every country in the region, and we expect that the FIDAE-2014 exhibition will open a phase of cooperation with many countries, particularly with Chile,” noted Sergei Ladygin, Deputy CEO of Rosoboronexport, who is leading the company’s delegation to the exhibition. “Some time ago we conducted rather productive talks with Chilean partners about helicopters, but then this work began to lag. We hope that while in Santiago we can resume these kinds of negotiations, as well as discussing a number of other potential projects.”

The Rosoboronexport delegation will hold a series of talks with senior members of the armed forces of Argentina, Brazil, Columbia, Peru, Uruguay, Chile, and other countries in the region.

Rosoboronexport’s schedule of joint activities includes talks with several Brazilian companies on technological cooperation, such as with the company Atlas Taxi Aero, which already actively uses the multipurpose Mi-171A1 helicopter, and the large industrial company IAS (Indъstria de Aviaзгo e Serviзios).

Foreign experts are expected to show particular interest in the combat training Yak-130 aircraft, the Mi-17 military transport helicopter, the Mi-28N military helicopter, the Su-35 multipurpose fighter jet, and the Il-76MD-90A military transport aircraft. Questions about aftermarket services and the development of service centers in the region are also expected to be discussed. Major Russian air defense systems, such as the Pantsir-S1, Buk-M2E, Tor-M2E, and Igla-S, are also expected to have great potential.

“Naturally, the Latin American market is traditionally thought of as the purview of Western European and American manufacturers. However, we offer not only military hardware and weapons that are ahead of competitors in terms of cost-effectiveness, but also technological cooperation projects. Gradually, as a result of systematic and phased work based on the principles of mutual benefit and transparency, we have been able to strengthen our position in the region,” noted Sergei Ladygin.

Russia has been a traditional participant in the FIDAE exhibition since 1994, presenting many times over the skies of Santiago the country’s best products, including Su and MiG fighter planes. In 2002, a group of Chilean parliamentarians at the exhibition familiarized themselves with the Mi-17 helicopter during a demonstration flight. Such demonstration flights were also held for the K-32 helicopter in 2008 and for the unique Be-200 amphibious aircraft in 2010.

Rosoboronexport is the only state organization in Russia authorized to export the entire spectrum of military and civilian products, services, and technologies. Part of the state corporation Rostec, Rosoboronexport is one of the leaders in the world arms market. The company accounts for over 80% of Russia’s exports of weapons and military equipment. Rosoboronexport cooperates with more than 700 enterprises and organizations of Russia’s military-industrial complex. The geography of Russia’s military-technical cooperation spans more than 70 countries.