A growing number of potential customers from African countries are showing interest in products made by Russia’s Kalashnikov concern, Leonid Rokeakh, the company’s director for exports of unmanned systems and loitering munitions, said.

Speaking to TASS on the sidelines of the Africa Aerospace and Defence exhibition in South Africa, Rokeakh said Kalashnikov representatives had held numerous talks with delegations from African countries.

“Representatives of many African countries are showing interest in Kalashnikov products,” Rokeakh said, adding that the company expects its customer base to expand following the negotiations.

The executive said that Kalashnikov’s portfolio includes loitering munitions and tactical reconnaissance drones, which he said have demonstrated effectiveness in combat conditions.

Rokeakh attributed the products’ appeal to their ease of training and operation, as well as relatively low cost. He said these characteristics could be particularly relevant for African countries with limited access to highly qualified personnel and comparatively smaller defense budgets.

The Kalashnikov representative said the company’s products could provide solutions for tasks that some countries address using more expensive systems.

Rokeakh said the concern’s line of loitering munitions has been expanded with a new product, the KUB-10ME.

“Now we cover all ranges of up to 120 km. We can engage all types of targets - personnel, stationary and mobile targets, surface targets, as well as targets protected by electronic warfare systems. Our armor-piercing munitions make it possible to do this very effectively. They use warheads ranging from 3 to 16 kg,” he added.

As part of the joint Rosoboronexport exhibition in South Africa, Kalashnikov presented a system comprising the Skat-350M reconnaissance unmanned aerial vehicle and the KUB-2ME loitering munition.

The concern is also showcasing its latest reconnaissance-strike system equipped with the Rus-PE guided munition.

The international Africa Aerospace and Defence exhibition is taking place from September 16 to 20 in Pretoria, at the Waterkloof Air Force Base in Centurion.