WDS 2022: Ukraine conflict casts shadow over Russian presence
Models on display at WDS 2022 included (left to right) the Tor-M2E and TOR-M2K SAM system plus the Taifun-PVO. (Photo: Leonid Nersisyan)
Russian companies exhibited at the World Defense Show despite the invasion of Ukraine and a chillier business environment.
Despite an increasingly problematic business environment due to the war in Ukraine, Russian companies still participated in the World Defense Show (WDS) in Riyadh on a fairly large scale.
Moreover, the Federal Service of Military-Technical Cooperation (FSMTC) identifies countries in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, including Saudi Arabia, as key partners in the global arms market.
According to the FSMTC, air defence, land vehicles and small arms are in the highest demand in Riyadh. This was vividly reflected in the Russian display, which was noticeably focused on air defence.
For instance, Russia for the first time presented
Already have an account? Log in
Want to keep reading this article?
Read this Article
Get access to this article with a Free Basic Account
- Original curated content, daily across air, land and naval domains
- 2 free stories per week
- Personalised news alerts
- Daily and weekly newsletters
Unlimited Access
Access to all our premium news as a Premium News 365 Member. Corporate subscriptions available.
- Original curated content, daily across air, land and naval domains
- 14-day free trial (cancel at any time)
- Unlimited access to all published premium news
More from Ukraine-Russia News: Technology and Equipment Spotlight
-
![Reporting on Russia's invasion of Ukraine (podcast)]()
Reporting on Russia's invasion of Ukraine (podcast)
In a new-look Shephard Defence Podcast, the news team discusses the rapidly-evolving situation in Ukraine and latest developments following Russia's unprovoked invasion.
-
![Italy may donate 155mm howitzers to Ukraine]()
Italy may donate 155mm howitzers to Ukraine
Ukraine could obtain more 155mm howitzers — this time from Italy — as Kyiv seeks to tip the artillery balance against Russia.
-
![Germany mulls supplying IRIS-T to Ukraine]()
Germany mulls supplying IRIS-T to Ukraine
Will Germany decide to provide ten medium-range SAM systems to Ukraine?
-
![Reina Isabel returns to port after partial failure to complete Ukraine delivery]()
Reina Isabel returns to port after partial failure to complete Ukraine delivery
The Spanish Navy support vessel Reina Isabel returned to its homeport on 13 May after a mission to deliver arms, ammunition and Ukraine — although Kyiv did not receive everything it expected.
-
![Pitfalls remain with giving Ukraine modern fighter jets]()
Pitfalls remain with giving Ukraine modern fighter jets
It seems appealing to fast-track pilot training by conducting most flights on simulators and omitting certain procedures if the West were to give more modern aircraft for Ukraine’s air force, but it might prove challenging in practice.
-
![Down, but not out (Comment)]()
Down, but not out (Comment)
The sinking in April of the Russian Navy’s Black Sea flagship, although not evidence of a major change in the naval domain, is a far cry from the pre-emptive scuttling of Ukraine’s own flagship. The donation of increasingly advanced materiel demonstrates increased faith in Ukraine’s ability to resist the Russian invaders.
