Moscow, Russia – The Russian state-owned arms exporter, Rosoboronexport, predicts that global demand for drones will increase by up to 120% and demand for mobile munitions by approximately 400% by 2030, driven by the growing reliance on unmanned systems in modern conflicts and their increasing role in military operations. Alexander Mikheev, Director General of the company, a subsidiary of the state corporation Rostec, stated that Russia attaches great importance to strengthening military and technological cooperation with its international partners in the defense industry, noting the rapid growth of the drone sector worldwide.
Mikheev’s remarks came on the sidelines of Rosoboronexport’s participation in the UMEX & SIMTEX 2026 exhibition and conference for unmanned systems, autonomous systems, simulation, and training, held in Abu Dhabi. For the first time, the company is hosting a unified Russian pavilion showcasing the latest domestic solutions in the fields of drones and mobile munitions.
The Russian pavilion provides a platform to showcase advanced technologies and discuss the prospects of this sector with delegations from various countries, noting that the exhibits include the most sought-after Russian systems in global markets, which have undergone confirmed combat tests and have proven to be highly efficient in performance and reliability.
The exhibits include the Kub-2-2E and Lancet-E mobile munitions, as well as the Skat-350M and Supercam S350 reconnaissance drones, and the Karakurt and Goliath unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) produced by the Kalashnikov Concern.
According to the company, these systems are characterized by their low radar signature, high maneuverability, resistance to electronic warfare, rapid deployment, and ease of operation in diverse environments.
Mikheev emphasized that Russia’s participation in UMEX 2026 is part of the company’s marketing and promotional campaign for 2026, aimed at expanding its network of partnerships and holding discussions and negotiations with delegations from Middle Eastern countries. This will contribute to strengthening military and technological cooperation and exchanging expertise in developing UAV technologies.
