The Forum served multiple purposes: stimulation of innovative development of the military-industrial complex of the Russian Federation; promoting the activities of young promising experts of scientific-research organizations of the Russian defence Ministry and the defence industry; development of military-technical cooperation of the Russian Federation with foreign states; and the formation of a positive image of the Ministry of Defence of Russia as a modern and dynamic structure. At the same time the event was set-up to increase the popularization of service in the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation.

Main objectives for this year’s event were to present new technologies and materials of other branches of science and industry for their introduction into production by the defence industry; and to demonstrate the maximum range of weapons, military- and special equipment in use with the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation.

While the Alabino range was used to display the firepower of modern Russian built tanks, Kubinka Airbase was the place to see a variety of aircraft in service with the Russian Air Force. Approximately thirty aircraft were on static display, ranging from the ageing Tu-95 “Bear” to the modern Sukhoi Su-34 bomber. Operating from the flightlines were various types of helicopters and fighters, which performed at the venue of the exhibition centre, as well as at the airfield itself. With Kubinka being home to the air demonstration teams ‘The Swifts’ (MiG-29) and ‘The Russian Knights’ (Su-27); both teams performed multiple times during the public days.

With Russian airshow attendance becoming increasingly rarer outside the Russian Federation itself, “Army” has become an interesting complement to the bi-annual MAKS aviation salon at Zhukovsky to still see some of its impressing airpower at work.