Fighter and transport aircraft, armored vehicles, unmanned aerial systems, precision-guided munitions, light weapons and other advances in the domestic defense sector are showcased on the Russian stands at the World Defense Show in Riyadh.
Compared with World Defense Expo 2022, the Russian pavilion in Riyadh has doubled in scale. There is strong interest in Russian weapons and military equipment, which have demonstrated high tactical and technical capabilities in combat, signaling a perceived edge over competing products.
Analysts note that major shifts in how armed forces are employed in modern conflicts come from the growing presence of unmanned systems capable of handling a wide range of battlefield tasks.
Many experts believe that drones equipped with artificial intelligence may become the primary tool for achieving goals in future wars. For this reason, unmanned systems occupy a significant position in the World Defense Show exhibit.
Russia presented both unmanned aerial platforms and the means to counter them in Riyadh.
Regarding air defense, models of medium-range systems and combat vehicles, including the S-350E Vityaz and the Viking air defense systems, were displayed in Saudi Arabia’s capital.
Short-range air defense demonstrations featured Tor family combat vehicles (Tor-E2, Tor-M2K, Tor-M2KM) in stationary and mobile variants, on both tracked and wheeled chassis.
Russia debuted its latest automated systems for drone suppression and radio tracking, capable of detecting the drone operator. The Serp-VS6 anti-UAV system is designed to shield facilities from quick, FPV drones and drone swarms.
weapons of the future
In this context, it is instructive to examine growth areas in unmanned platforms and the countermeasures pursued by leading developers. In the United States, intensified work aims to create unmanned aerial vehicles that operate in tandem with human-piloted aircraft.
The US Air Force plans a series of UAV test flights this year to evaluate these technologies.
This includes interactive drones, sometimes called loyal wingmen, designed to accompany modern fighters like the F-35 and the forthcoming Next Generation Air Dominance platform.
US experts say that loyal wingmen working with manned aircraft could perform reconnaissance, engage targets on land, sea or air, disrupt enemy communications, or serve as decoys.
Three development directions guide the US Air Force’s pursuit of loyal wingmen: building the platforms themselves, shaping the control system architecture, and planning how to organize and train this system.
In the United States Air Force, the deployment of loyal wingmen appears extensive. Earlier estimates of 1,000 potential units have grown, with current forecasts suggesting even larger deployments.
For large-scale procurement, the price range is expected to fall between a quarter and a third of an F-35, roughly 20 to 27 million dollars per unit.
Possible platforms
The US Air Force is evaluating several aircraft from different developers as potential loyal wingman platforms. One candidate is the XQ-58 Valkyrie, built by Kratos Defense & Security Solutions to escort manned aircraft.
Valkyrie achieves speeds up to 1050 km/h, with a cruising speed near 882 km/h. Its service ceiling reaches 13.7 km, and operational range is at least 5550 km. Armament for the drone, up to 270 kg, can be housed internally or carried externally. JDAM and GBU-39 munitions are among the potential weapons options.
Other contenders include Boeing with the MQ-28 Ghost Bat, which shares a similar profile to the Valkyrie though with side-mounted air intakes. While official specifications remain undisclosed, it is presumed to be slightly heavier than the Valkyrie.
General Atomics has explored the Predator C (Avenger) as a possible platform, notable for its heft with a maximum take-off weight around 8,255 kg.
Why loyal followers?
Autonomous, interactive UAVs are a core priority for the US Air Force as the Pentagon seeks to elevate combat aviation and modernize the fleet and its structure.
Why focus on an approach that may not yield immediate returns? The rationale lies in recent conflicts showing the vulnerability of outdated aviation systems, proving that numerical superiority alone may not guarantee victory in future wars.
This has driven the Air Force to reexamine alternative strategies that could shift the balance in future battles. A likely option is the implementation of unmanned loyal wingmen. Developing these technologies is seen as conferring a decisive edge in forthcoming conflicts, with similar studies underway in China, India, Turkey and Australia.
What about in Russia?
Designer Nikolai Dolzhenkov is credited with proposing the concept of Russian interactive UAVs several years ago, outlining the tasks needed to bring it to life. The progress of comparable programs abroad reinforces the soundness of such a technical vision.
The course of events connected with the special operation forced a reevaluation of priorities in weapons and equipment development, focusing on what is needed here and now. Still, Russia recognizes that state security is not limited to immediate tasks. The evolving geopolitical landscape underscores the importance of launching domestic projects that enable UAVs to work in close coordination with manned aircraft.
Accordingly, there is no need to delay creating such systems for too long. Delays could risk losing the chance to shift the balance of power in Russia’s favor and let opponents gain the upper hand.