The salon’s primary goal is to showcase Russian-made high-tech equipment and demonstrate the openness of the Russian market to joint projects with foreign partners.
Beginings
The first aerospace show in Russia, Mosaeroshow-92, was held at the Gromov Institute airfield on August 11-16, 1992, with over 200 corporate participants from the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) and other foreign countries. About 114 aircraft were displayed at the show, with a total of about 300,000 visitors.
In 1993, the show received its current official name and the status of MAKS.
The first MAKS was held from August 31 to September 5, 1993, at three venues — the Gromov Institute airfield, Krasnaya Presnya Exhibition Center and Central Aerodrome in Moscow.
MAKS-1993 was attended by 260 companies, including 82 foreign firms from 17 countries. As many as 173 aircraft were on display, with 400,000 visitors.
For Russia, 1993 was a milestone year for aerospace exhibition activities. In accordance with a presidential order, the Gromov Institute airfield was designated as the single venue for this global aerospace show. The shows are held every odd year.
MAKS is sponsored by the Russian president, which guarantees a high level of organization and representation.
MAKS provides a comprehensive understanding of priorities and achievements in Russia’s aerospace industry. It is the only place to see aircraft and weapon system prototypes, as well as pilot equipment, that cannot be viewed at other international shows.
MAKS provides professionals and businesses with a one-of-a-kind opportunity to establish contacts at many levels and to promote industrial cooperation, as well as to meet with new business partners.
Numerous scientific conferences and symposia are held at MAKS with the support of Russia’s Central Aerohydrodynamic Institute. Researchers and experts use the gatherings to exchange opinions about pressing current and future issues in aviation and space exploration.
The Aviasalon company, established in 1992, is the organizer for international aviation and space shows in Russia.
MAKS-2013
MAKS-2013 was held between August 27 and September 1, 2013, and became the largest event in the history of Zhukovsky airshows.
The show was attended by 864 companies, including 287 foreign exhibitors from 44 countries.
The exhibits were on display in 19,385 square meters of roofed showrooms, 7,352 square meters of open-air displays, and 97 chalets spanning 9,300 square meters. The parking are covered over 140,000 square meters.
MAKS-2013 participants signed an all-time high number of contracts, memoranda of intent and agreements for aviation equipment and parts supplies totaling over $21.2 billion, exceeding the $16 billion sale mark in 2011.
The bulk of the agreements were signed by Russian aircraft manufacturers for civilian aircraft supplies.
In addition to aerobatic teams of the Russian Knights, Swifts, Falcons of Russia (Russian Air Force), and Russia’s Volunteer Society for the Army, Aviation and Navy (DOSAAF), the Breitling Jet private aerobatic team from Dijon, France, and the Russian Air Force's Golden Eagles aerobatic team fllying six Mi-28N attack helicopters, participated for the first time.
The Chinese August 1 Air Force aerobatic team performed in Russia for the first time at MAKS 2013. First Flight, Russia's only privately-owned aerobatic team, using Yak-52 and Yak-54 piston-engine aircraft, and the Baltic Bees, a privately-held civilian aerobatic team from Latvia, also participated in MAKS-2013 flight program.
MAKS-2013 saw demo flights by Swiss McDonnell Douglas F/A-18s (Hornet). The Czech company Evektor debuted at the airshow, introducing a light nine-seat all-purpose twin-engine aircraft featuring short takeoff and landing. The French Air Force demonstrated Dassault-made fourth-generation fighters Rafale (Squall) in the MAKS-2013 flight program.
Russia displayed a new Il-76MD-90A heavy-duty military transport aircraft, the Sukhoi Superjet-100LR regional jet, Mi-171A2 and Ka-62 helicopters with Turbomeca engines, and the Mi-38 with a TV7-117 engine. The world's largest commercial aircraft, the Airbus A380 jumbo jet, was a popular guests to the airshow.
The event was covered by 3,500 journalists from over 900 Russian and foreign media outlets. Visitor numbers in 2013 exceeded 350,000 despite bad weather. In the first three days, MAKS was visited by about 70,000 specialists.
Over 2,200 police officers and Interior Ministry servicemen were on duty at the airshow.
MAKS-2015
The exhibits were on display in 28,000 square meters of roofed showrooms, 8,000 square meters of open-air displays. Intensive talks were held in 78 chalets. A total of 103 official delegations from 65 countries and 66,000 specialists visited the show. Visitor numbers in 2015 exceeded 404,000 people.
Russian state arms exporter Rosoboronexport held talks and meetings with representatives from 42 states, during which a number of contracts and agreements were signed. In particular, an agreement on deliveries of Yak-130 trainer aircraft and TOR-M2K missile systems to Belarus. An agreement on deliveries of Russian made P-7 parachute systems was signed with Spain.
Mostly signed in the civilian aerospace sector, many deals had to do with Russia’s Superjet-100 totalling over $1 billion.
The absolute majority of the deals were signed in the first three days, where the first one featured arrival of Russian President Vladimir Putin and the second two were dedicated exclusively to business.
In the sphere of aircraft construction, Russian company VSMPO-Avisma, leading manufacturer of titanium products, signed a contract on the delivery of titanium molds for the new composite wing of Boeing’s 777X aircraft, and an agreement with Airbus on machined components for the landing gear.
MAKS-2017
The 13th International Aviation and Space Salon MAKS-2017 kicked off on Tuesday and will last through Sunday.
About 700 Russian and 180 foreign corporations and companies from 36 countries are expected to participate in the air show, including Russia's state technology corporation Rostec and arms exporter Rosoboronexport, as well as arms manufacturer Almaz-Antey, Russian Helicopters, and several companies from the space industry.
Russian Helicopters, a Moscow-based manufacturer, will present the military transport helicopter Mi-171 Sh-VN.
Russia's NPO Aerospace Technologies company will showcase its BORTS Triton amphibious flying vehicle.
According to the Russian Defense Ministry, Russia's aerobatic group Sokoly Rossii (Russian Falcons) will simulate an air fight with the use of the Su-35S fighter jets for the first time.
Russia's Rosoboronexport arms exporter will present the country's advanced aviation technologies with the use of holographic panels with elements of levitation. According to the company's Deputy Director General, Sergey Goreslavsky, the new exhibition technologies will be used to promote Su-35, MiG-29M and Yak-130 planes, as well as Ka-52, Mi-35 and Mi-171Sh helicopters.
Russia's Kalashnikov Concern arms manufacturer will publicly display its new ZALA 421-16Е2 unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) for the first time.
Russia's Concern Radio-Electronic Technologies (KRET), part of the Rostec state corporation, said on July 13 that it would hand over new electronic warfare (EW) complexes to the country's Aerospace Forces during MAKS. Over 200 projects developed by KRET will be showcased at the exhibition.
According to the statement, the new KRET developments to be displayed at the exhibition include the on-board electronics for Sukhoi Su-35S fighter jet, system of the air parameters measuring used on Kamov Ka-52 helicopters, missile direction laser system for Kamov Ka-52 and Mil Mi-27N helicopters, as well as airborne radars for the new-generation fighters, including the Mikoyan MiG-35 jet.
Apart from this, KRET will showcase the entire range of on-board electronics for Irkut MC-21 aircraft.
Additionally, Russia's Rosoboronexport state intermediary plans to sign more than 10 contracts and cooperation agreements with foreign governments and companies, as well as Russian enterprises producing military hardware at MAKS.
