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2021-07-05

Rosoboronexport’s Order Portfolio in Sub-Saharan Africa Increases by US$1.7 B

Rosoboronexport JSC (part of the Rostec State Corporation) recently attended the Shield Africa 2021 International Security and Defense Exhibition, which was held from June 8 to 10 at the Police Academy in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.

“Rosoboronexport is continuing to foster military-technical cooperation with Sub-Saharan African countries, which received a strong impetus during the Russia-Africa Forum in 2019. In 2020 and early 2021, we signed contract documents worth over US$1.7 billion in this region and brought the number of countries in Central, Western and Southern Africa in our order portfolio to 17,” said Alexander Mikheev, Director General of Rosoboronexport. “Today, Rosoboronexport is marketing helicopters, air defence systems, naval products, armoured vehicles, equipment for law enforcement agencies, airport and critical infrastructure security equipment, small arms, including special weapons, in the region.”

During Shield Africa 2021, the Rosoboronexport delegation held meetings and negotiations with representatives of law enforcement agencies of the African countries, as well as made presentations of Russian-made products marketed by the company for all services of the armed forces, including police and special units.

Russian Expertise on Display

Russian products that the company’s specialists highlighted included the BTR-80, 80A and 82A armoured personnel carriers. The BTR-80 armoured personnel carrier (APC) is a combat wheeled amphibious vehicle designed to transport motor rifle units, provide fire support to them on the battlefield, and fight from inside the vehicle. While the BTR-80A features an all-new armament system. It is fitted with an externally mounted weapon station comprising the 30mm 2A72 automatic cannon and coaxial 7.62mm machine gun. The installation of the automatic cannon has resulted in a significant two-fold increase in the combat effectiveness of the APC.

The Kalashnikov AK-100 and AK-200 series, AK-12 and AK-15 assault rifles were also on display and are reportedly the most in demand in the region, along with the AK-19, AK-308 rifles. The highly reliable Kalashnikov assault rifle with a short barrel and folding buttstock are in high demand for Vehicle Crewmembers, Special Forces and regular Armed Forces to accomplish special tasks. This model of the AK100th series was especially designed to balance sufficient firepower with compact size in order to augment operator’s mobility and performance on the battlefield.

In addition, the partners were provided information about Russian anti-tank guided missile systems, including the Kornet-E and Kornet-EM systems, 120 and 82 mm mortars. The Kornet-E vehicle-mounted/portable anti-tank guided missile (ATGM) system is designed to engage current and future tanks fitted with explosive reactive armour, lightly armoured vehicles, fortifications, hovering helicopters, pinpoint surface targets in any weather, day or night, and in electronic and optical countermeasures environments.

In addition to the Rosoboronexport delegation, Russia was represented by the Military Industrial Company (VPK), which organised an exhibit display with the full-scale VPK-233316 Tigr special armoured vehicle in the Raid configuration, VPK-39473 Strela light armoured and VPK-Ural multi-purpose armoured vehicles. These vehicles were showcased at an exhibition on the African continent for the first time. Furthermore, during the event, Rosoboronexport held detailed consultations and negotiations on the supply of this equipment.

“We also informed our partners that we have expanded our capabilities and are actively developing the activities related to supply of Russian civilian products. Rosoboronexport, which enjoys high reputation in the government and business circles of African countries, acts as a “Single Window” and guarantor of the reliability of transactions for both Russian manufacturers and foreign customers,” Mikheev added.

In order to promote civilian products in the world market for companies unexperienced in independent foreign trade activities, Rosoboronexport has set up a special division to organise the supply of civilian products.

The core export product groups include vehicles, seagoing/river vessels, medical supplies, civil and service weapons, process equipment, metallurgical and chemical products.

The company has already implemented several contracts for the supply of modern fire engines, civil helicopters, and security systems to various countries around the world, and a number of pre-contract negotiations are underway. Agreements on joint promotion of civilian products in the external market have been concluded with major Russian holding companies and are in force.

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