Russia Seeks Middle East Deals at MAKS Air Show
However, “the most important deal is the possible arms deal with Saudi Arabia,” Khlebnikov said. “My guess is that Saudi Arabia might be interested in the newest Russian combat helicopters, the K-52Ks, which were specifically designed for the Mistral helicopter carriers.”
The K-52K will be shown publicly for the first time at MAKS, and given that Saudi Arabia has expressed a strong interest in the Mistral carriers, which France was supposed to deliver to Russia before the contract was suspended last year, “it makes it very likely that the Saudis want the helicopters [built for the ships],” Khlebnikov said.
The MiG aircraft company said it would dust off a full-scale model of its light fifth-generation fighter design, the MiG 1.44, as it works to develop a light fighter to sell on the foreign market. Russia's first strike drone is also expected to be displayed at the show.