UAE-Russia Defense Relations: Talks to procure Su-35 and Ka-52 aircraft

7 July 2025

IntelligenceNote

Summary

The UAE is interested in the procurement of Russian military aircraft, especially the Su-35 fighter

jet and the Ka-52 attack helicopter.

The note provides a comprehensive overview of the following aspects:

The strategic and operational reasons behind the UAE’s interest in procuring Russian military aircraft
The number of Russian aircraft the UAE plans to procure
Emirati technical concerns and UAE President Sheikh Mohammad Bin Zayed (MBZ) view on these concerns
A timeframe in which a deal is expected to be concluded