The Farnborough International Airshow has kicked off in a small town west of London, although many Russian aerospace industry delegates had to stay at home due to visa problems.
The week-long event, which combines a well-respected trade exhibition for aerospace and defense industries with a spectacular airshow, will run until July 20.
Russian arms exporter Rosoboronexport is to present the country’s most advanced military aircraft at the show, as are many Russian companies, who are planning some major announcements and press meetings to promote their projects.
The Farnborough airshow is a biannual event. This year it will have 1,500 exhibitors on display, 70 grounded aircraft and 23 ones due to take part in flying displays.
It is expected to attract over 100,000 visitors and an even greater number of potential buyers, in addition to some 90 official delegations and more than 20 countries, who will have their own stands at the show.
Russia has been a regular guest at Farnborough since 2008. This time, it is going to bring in 74 companies, including 17 military ones, such as Sukhoi, MiG and Il.
“We are planning to hold presentations of combat helicopters and planes for delegations from the Middle East, Latin America and Southeast Asia,” said Sergei Kornev, head of Russia’s defense exporting Rosoboronexport delegation who has been barred from going to the show.
Despite visa hurdles, the company hopes to draw attention of potential foreign buyers to its cutting-edge combat aircraft, such as multipurpose Sukhoi Su-35 fighters, Mikoyan MiG-29M/ fighter jets, fighter/trainer Yakovlev Yak-130, combat helicopters Mil Mi-35M, Mi-28 NE and Kamov Ka-52, to name a few.
It was reported earlier that UK authorities denied visas to several members of the Russian delegation at the upcoming Farnborough Airshow, a refusal they later linked to Moscow’s stance on the crisis in Ukraine.
