Africa Aerospace and Defense (AAD) Expo Opens in South Africa.
Russia has a significant presence at Africa’s largest defense and aerospace event, with arms export agency Rosoboronexport displaying over 250 items of military, dual-use, and civilian equipment. This year’s AAD expo, which is the 12th edition, opened on Wednesday in South Africa and will run until Sunday.
According to the organizers, more than 300 companies from various countries, including BRICS members China and Brazil, are participating in the event, which takes place once every two years. The US, a key regular participant, had planned to take part in the AAD but later withdrew over an alleged refusal by Pretoria’s defense department to confirm the status of a decades-old military agreement.
Rosoboronexport announced it will showcase advanced weapon systems such as Typhoon-K, ZA-SpN Titan, 3-STS Akhmat, Spartak, and Tiger mine-resistant ambush-protected (MRAP) vehicles, as well as upgraded Linza protected field ambulances. Modern Russian military transport and combat aircraft and helicopters, the Yak-130 combat trainer, the Orion-E reconnaissance/strike UAV, the Orlan-10E and Orlan-30 reconnaissance UAV systems, the S-350 Skat UAV, and the Kub-E loitering munition will also be featured.
The agency, which is part of the Russian state-owned Rostec defense corporation, said it is exhibiting advanced armored vehicle protection systems for the first time in Africa, including Nakidka radio-absorbing material, add-on slat armor, and explosive reactive armor (ERA) kits for tanks and light armored vehicles.
Alexander Mikheev, head of Rosoboronexport, said the organization “is steadily expanding its footprint on the continent, including through active participation in exhibitions.” The company has been successfully cooperating with over 40 African countries, assisting “partners in the region to strengthen their defense capabilities and sovereignty, adequately respond to today’s security threats related to organized crime and terrorism,” he added.
In recent years, Russia has strengthened its security cooperation with African countries such as Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger. The three nations have cut ties with France and the US while seeking Moscow’s defense assistance to combat long-standing extremist violence in the Sahel.
Speaking on the sidelines of the Egypt International Airshow earlier this month, Rosoboronexport’s director told RIA Novosti that the agency is working on several African cooperation projects worth more than $560 million. The initiatives revolve around the licensed production of small arms, ammunition, armored vehicles, and swift combat boats.
Last December, the export agency reported that the continent had bought more than 30% of the weapons systems Russia exported in 2023.
