The federal state unitary enterprise (FSUE) Rosoboronexport brings the most advanced items of Russian special-purpose weapons and equipment to SOFEX 2010, The 8th International Special Operations Forces Exhibition and Conference to be held from 10th till 13th May 2010 in the capital city of Amman, Jordan.

Russia has been traditionally participating in SOFEX events at the Marka airbase since 2002 with its national expositions set up under the aegis of Rosoboronexport.

The Middle East is seen by Rosoboronexport as one of the most promising arms markets with bright prospects for establishing closer and deeper military-technical cooperation. Russia has traditionally maintained friendly relations with Jordan, the host country, as is evidenced by continuous bilateral contacts at high level.

Rosoboronexport shapes its policy for potential customers by making analysis of their urgent requirements, and puts forth the most effective still economical ways of meeting them. Such an approach must attract visitors’attention to the Russian exposition.

A number of items on display have been developed with due account of the vast experience that Russia gained in its anti-terrorism operations. Nowadays most of these weapons and devices are used by special-operations units of the Russian Ministry of Interior and Federal Security Service, allowing them to effectively counter emerging threats. It must be emphasized that Russian special-purpose weapons offered for delivery by Rosoboronexport are manufactured in small batches and transferred under stringent control practically denying chances of their falling into the hands of terrorists.

Visitors will be able to obtain detailed reference data on a wide range of small arms as well as ammunition and sights for them. Among the exhibits one will find legendary Kalashnikov assault rifles of the hundredth series: AK-101, AK-102, AK-103 and AK-104 models, its AK-74M and AKMS upgrades, AN-94 Nikonov assault rifle as well as 7.62-mm RPK and Pecheneg machine guns and 12.7-mm 6P50 infantry heavy machine gun. The 5.45-mm PSM and 9-mm PMM pistols as well as Yarygin self-loading pistol are considered to be ideal weapons for close quarters battle.

Professionals single out the PP-2000 compact submachine gun from among other special-purpose small arms. The weapon allows conducting aimed fire at a range of up to 200 m. Its 9-mm armour-piercing bullets neutralise enemy personnel wearing Class II body armour protection means. High-strength plastic components used in the PP-2000 submachine gun structure have allowed designers to cut its weight to mere 1.4 kg (with empty magazine). The submachine gun can mount various types of sights, as well as fire sound and flash suppressors.

The APS underwater assault rifle stays unique in the international arms market with its underwater range of fire surpassing visibility limits. It provides stable fire capacity at up to 40-metre depths.

Sniper weapons intended for special-operations units are represented by the world-famous 7.62-mm SVD/SVDS and OTs-03 rifles as well as 12.7-mm OSV-96 high-power rifle. The latter weapon is capable of defeating light armoured hardware, radars, and aircraft parked on aprons. Its maximum aimed range of fire against hardware extends to 1,800 m and against manpower to 1,200 m (600 m at night). It fires the B-32 rounds capable of penetrating a 20-mm thick steel panel at a range of 1,000 m. The OSV-96 rifle can be used as an anti-sniper weapon due to its extended range of fire and collapsible design facilitating carriage.

The Middle East customers are well aware of Russian antitank grenade launchers. They are seen not only as a serious threat to modern tanks but also as an effective weapon against terrorists hidden inside buildings and fortifications. The Russian exposition will also showcase the RPG-7V1 and RPG-29 hand-held antitank grenade launchers, AGS-30 automatic grenade launchers, Metis-M1 and Kornet-E antitank guided missile systems, as well as RPO-A, RPO-D and RPO-Z infantry rocket flame-throwers.

The GM-94 magazine-fed grenade launcher is an effective weapon for use in special and police operations conducted in urban terrain. It can be fired from within confined spaces and transportation means owing to its low sound and zero flash signatures. It is a versatile weapon capable of firing different types of ammunition, including among others thermobaric, sound-and-flash, and stunning grenades.

Many states in this region are confronted with the most acute problem of maintaining control over their exclusive economic zones. Lately Russia has carried out a number of projects for setting up automated littoral control systems operated in the interests of various state agencies. Visitors to the Rosoboronexport's stand will be able to familiarise themselves with eventual constituents of such systems. Among showcased equipment are underwater surveillance sensors including the Komor electromagnetic antisubmarine system, Komor-1 magneto-acoustic antisaboteur system, and Amga-ME sonar. Surface targets can be monitored by means of such surveillance systems as the MR-101M1E shore-based radar and its mobile version - Mys-M1E.

Another exhibit in this class is the DP-65 remotely-controlled grenade launcher system designed to protect against underwater saboteurs both military and civil installations, such as offshore oil production platforms and terminals. Its range of fire goes from 50 to 500 m, with the fuze set to a given depth.

The Russian-made Eleron-3 and Eleron-10 remote surveillance unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) will also be showcased at the exhibition. The UAVs can be deployed to conduct real-time surveillance over designated targets in given areas. Small size, high mobility, manual and automatic flight control modes are listed among their main advantages. The UAVs are flown on signals received from both US GPS and Russian GLONASS navigation systems.

Moreover, this exhibition provides Rosoboronexport with the opportunity of presenting other types of Russian arms and military equipment offered for export. Specialists will be able to get detailed briefings on the Mi-35M, Ka-52 and Mi-171Sh helicopters, T-90U main battle tank with its new 45M integrated fire control system, upgraded ZU-23/ZOM1 anti-aircraft gun system, and Igla-S man-portable air defence missile system.

ROSOBORONEXPORT
12.05.2010