35 Russian companies at Aero India 2011

Aero India-2011, which will be held in Bangalore Feb 9-13, is expected to attract a record number of over 600 manufacturers, vendors, and suppliers from 63 countries. Russia will be represented by 35 companies, including MiG, Sukhoi, Almaz-Antei and Engineering Design Bureau.

Russia will traditionally promote MiG-35 and Su-35 fighter jets, the Yak-130 combat trainer, two versions of Il-76MD transport plane (with different engines), the Il-78MK aerial tanker and MiG-29K and MiG-29KUB naval fighters.

The Be-200 amphibious aircraft will most likely be one of the top attractions of the Russian exhibit as its popularity with foreign customers steadily grows. The plane could be used in a wide variety of roles, from maritime reconnaissance and rescue to firefighting.

Rosoboronexport and Russian helicopters will show the Mi-28NE attack helicopter, the light multirole Ka-226T and the heavy transport Mi-26. All three helicopters are currently taking part in separate Indian helicopter tenders.

The visitors will also be able to receive information about the Mi-35M combat transport helicopter, the Kamov Ka-31 radar surveillance helicopter and the Ansat and Kamov Ka-32A11BS multi-role helicopters.

The air defence part of the Russian exhibit will be represented by the Tor-M2E, the S-300VM, the Buk-M2E and the Tunguska-M1 systems. Russia's Engineering Design Bureau will unveil a new ultra short-range air defence system based on the Strelets multiple launcher for the portable Igla missiles.

Russia is the world's second largest conventional arms exporter after the US. In 2010, Russian defence industry companies delivered about $10 billion worth of arms to foreign customers.