How Russian tanks reached Peru and what came of it

Blogger Yegor Lavrentiev says: “So, friends, I congratulate you, our military equipment has already reached Latin America and even managed to make a rustle there from May 14 to 17. What happened there? Why did Russian tanks, helicopters and air defense systems suddenly end up on a neighboring continent?”

(Total 10 photos)

Source: JJournal/egor-lavrentiev

In fact, nothing terrible happened, just Russia took part in the International Salon of Defense Technologies SITDEF PERU 2015, which was held in Lima.

The theme of this exhibition is armored vehicles and artillery, aviation and avionics, air defense systems, communications equipment, engineering and sanitary equipment, demining equipment, auxiliary equipment, including special equipment and equipment for the prevention of natural disasters and natural disasters.

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2. Russia presented over 400 exhibits at the exhibition. The organizer of the Russian exposition, of course, is the state corporation Rostec, which unites several hundred military and civilian industrial enterprises of our country under its auspices. 12 holdings included in Rostec presented their products at the stands of the exhibition.

3. Russia has recently been actively developing military-technical cooperation with the states of Latin America, making a big bet on this promising region. Even at SITDEF-2013, Sergey Goreslavsky, Director of the Department for Foreign Economic Activity and Marketing of the Rostec State Corporation, noted:

“Latin America is a promising market for Russian military products. The region already operates 500 Russian-made helicopters, transport and combat aircraft. Rostec, in addition to deliveries of end products of armaments and military equipment through Rosoboronexport and high-tech civilian products, offers its partners attractive technological cooperation schemes, including the transfer of certain technologies in the field of service and repair of supplied equipment, the organization of joint assembly plants and other forms of mutually beneficial cooperation. There are seven foreign representative offices of Rostec in Latin America: in Argentina, Brazil, Venezuela, Colombia, Cuba, Mexico and Peru.”

4. By the way, every fifth helicopter in the Latin American aircraft market is assembled in Russia. Viktor Kladov, head of the international cooperation department at Rostec, said: “About 20% of the helicopter market in countries south of the Rio Grande is Russian products. In terms of civil helicopters, unfortunately, we still occupy only 2%. But we are doing full-scale marketing work, we are trying to correct the situation.”

Well, let's say 2%, but our Ka-32A11BC are well known to Latin American operators. They are successfully used in firefighting, construction and installation works and transportation of goods on an external sling in Peru, Colombia, Brazil and Chile. The Ka-32A11BC has the best payload in its class and excellent maneuverability.

5. The helicopter owes its characteristics to the latest on-board equipment developed by the Radioelectronic Technologies Concern (KRET). It includes an electronic indication system, an air signal calculator, a speed indicator, an alarm system and a magnetic fluid compass. A significant part of the work is carried out by the Ulyanovsk Instrument Design Bureau, which is part of the concern.

6. Well, since the conversation turned to helicopters, there is good news: the next batch of Mi-171Sh helicopters of seven helicopters will be delivered to Peru at the end of May.

The contract for the supply of helicopters was signed in December 2013. The issue price is $400 million. The first batch arrived in Peru in the winter of 2014. All 24 vehicles are planned to be shipped to the customer this year. In addition, in April 2016 Russia will open a service center for servicing Mi helicopters in Peru.

7. In addition to helicopters, Russia also presented other equipment. For example, in our exposition there were models of modernized tanks from Uralvagonzavod - T-90S and T-72. In addition, models of BMPT and BMPT-72 tank support combat vehicles and modern engineering vehicles - the BMR-3MS armored demining vehicle, the BREM-1M engineering barrier vehicle, the TMM-6 heavy mechanized bridge and others. The exhibition also featured the Antey-2500 air defense system, the Su-35 4++ generation fighter, and much more.

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9. I think we had a good trip. During the event, Rostec considered the possibility of supplying military and civil technologies to Peru. Both parties are interested in such an approach from the point of view of not only ensuring security, but also establishing the economic development of countries. In addition, Moscow is ready to grant Lima a license to manufacture the AK-103 Kalashnikov assault rifle and Yarygin PYa MR-443 Grach pistols. Lima will also be assisted in the supply and assembly of KamAZ buses and trucks.

10. On the whole, among the most promising areas of cooperation with Latin American countries, one can naturally single out the aviation segment, and especially helicopters. Then follows the armament and equipment of the ground forces and air defense systems of various classes. From 2002 to 2015, more than $700 million worth of contracts were signed. Moscow wants to further strengthen relations with Peru. Sanctions are sanctions, but business needs to be done. Not with some, so with others. The market does not tolerate emptiness.