MOSCOW. Nov 10 (Interfax-AVN) - The Russian stand at the IMDEX Asia 2003 international maritime defense exhibition to be held in Singapore from Tuesday to Friday displays mock-ups, scale models, information and advertising materials on approximately 200 types of armaments and military equipment for the Navy and other types of armed forces, the press service of the Rosoboronexport arms trading company told Interfax-Military News Agency.
"Foreign experts and guests of the exhibition will be able to acquaint themselves with export versions of Russian modern naval vessels, including the Project 956E destroyer, Project 11541 Korsar and Project 11661 Gepard frigates, a family of multi- purpose corvettes, including the latest Project 20382 and the Project 1239 Bora skeg-type missile carrier unique in terms of its capabilities, size, and speed," a press service official said.
According to experts, Project 12322 Zubr and Project 12061E Murena hydrofoils capable of transporting for considerable distances and deploying paratrooper units and military equipment, including tanks, infantry fighting vehicles and armored personnel carriers, on non-equipped coastal areas, have good export prospects in the region.
Special attention of the participants and guests of the exhibition will be given to the Russian Projects 877EKM and 636 submarines equipped with the Club-S missile system, as well as the unique 4th generation Amur-950 and Amur-1650 diesel-electric submarines.
The Russian section also includes small and medium surface vessels that are in higher than average demand in the countries of the region. Projects 12421 and 12418 Molniya missile boats, as well as Project 20910 Chilim, Project 12150 Mangust, Project 12200 Sobol, Project 14310 Mirage, Projects 10410 and 10412 Svetlyak patrol boats, displacing 10-550 tonnes and having a speed of up to 50 knots, are considered by right among the best in the world.
Along with the warships, the Russian exposition includes a wide range of armament systems, many of which have no foreign analogues. These include Moskit, Club, Yakhont, Uran anti-ship missile systems, as well as air defense missile, artillery and anti-submarine systems.
This year 12 Russian defense enterprises are represented by Rosoboronexport, the organizer of the Russian stand. The list of the enterprises include the Severnoye Engineering and Design Bureau, Arsenal Machine-Building Plant, Novator Experimental Engineering Bureau, Academician Krylov Central Research Institute, Splav State Research and Production Enterprise, Barrikady Production Association, Degtyarev Plant, Akvamarin JSC, Rubin Central Design Bureau, Almaz Central Design Bureau, Tactical Missiles Corporation, and Malakhit Naval Design Bureau.
According to military analysts' estimates, over the next 15 years Asia-Pacific region states intend to spend about USD140bn on acquisition of new battle ships and naval armaments, which accounts for approximately 40% of the naval expenditure forecast on a global scale. This year alone, Russia signed arms exports contracts with Malaysia and Indonesia totaling over USD1bn.
In this regard, the most prominent naval exhibition in the region is of extreme interest to the leading manufacturers and consumers of the naval vessels and armaments. Initially, IMDEX Asia 2003 was planned for May this year but due to the SARS outbreak in the region it had to be rescheduled.