At the Dubai Airshow 2025, Russia made a high-profile attempt to promote its export line of weapons, showcasing the Forpost-RE drone – a re-engineered copy of the Israeli IAI Searcher Mk II – and the latest Pantsir-SMD-E anti-drone system. Moscow insists that both developments meet "the current challenges of modern conflicts." This was reported by Defence Blog, writes UNN.
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At the largest aviation exhibition in the Middle East, Russia focused on demonstrating unmanned technologies and means of combating them. The central exhibit was the export modification of the Forpost-RE drone, created by the Ural Civil Aviation Plant (UZGA). This is essentially a licensed version of the Israeli Searcher Mk II, which the Russian side has actively used in combat operations in Syria, Ukraine, and other regions.
Before the presentation, the manufacturer published a promotional video claiming that the device is fully localized and assembled from Russian components. According to UZGA, the key advantage of the new "Forpost" is its "sanction-proof nature" and "many years of combat experience."
The competitive advantage of the Russian Forpost-RE unmanned aerial vehicle is its absolute protection from sanctions due to entirely Russian components and many years of successful experience in real combat zones. It has passed all tests and is serially supplied to the troops.
The manufacturer positions the UAV as a multi-purpose platform for reconnaissance and high-precision strikes, capable of operating in a temperature range from –40°C to +50°C. The drone can not only conduct long-term surveillance of ground and sea targets but also use guided and unguided weapons.
UZGA places particular emphasis on autonomous functions: automatic takeoff and landing, the UAV lands using laser radiation and video monitoring of the runway, even in the absence of global satellite navigation system signals.
Presentation of the new Pantsir-SMD-E air defense system
In parallel, Russia showcased the modernized Pantsir-SMD-E short-range air defense system. Unlike previous versions, the new model lacks two 30-mm cannons – instead, the focus is on intercepting drones using an updated radar and a specially designed mini-missile.
According to Russian representatives, the system is being demonstrated in the Middle East for the first time and is designed to meet modern threats from small drones, which are actively used in current conflicts. The Pantsir-SMD-E is positioned as a modular and scalable platform for protecting objects from low-flying drones.
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