Russia shows off nuclear weapons, owl-like drones and unmanned tanks at its annual military expo

Russia’s cutting edge military hardware including a drone shaped like an owl, nuclear weapons, and unmanned tanks has gone on show at its annual military exhibition.

The International Military Technical Forum will present foreign commanders and members of the public with 27,000 different weapons and vehicles.

The show, held at Patriot Park on the outskirts of Moscow, boasts a 500,000 metre squared outdoor exhibition area and its website claims there will be more than 1,250 Russian and foreign exhibitors. 

Russian defence minister Sergey Shoygu said in a statement: ‘Being one of the world’s biggest and most prestigious exhibitions of armaments and military hardware, the Forum has a crucial role in bringing civilians and armed forces together, enhance the authority of the Armed Forces, and cultivating a sense of national pride amongst the young generation…

‘Without a doubt, innovative developments presented by both domestic and international enterprises will attract great interest of experts and guests of the exhibition. Moreover, all the attendees will find an exhibition devoted to the Russian force grouping in the Syrian Arab Republic most interesting.’ 

As well as displays for various categories including drones, robotics and nuclear weapons, famed Russian aerobatics teams will be on show.

The colossal exhibition which began today will also feature naval and land vehicle displays and runs through to the end of this month.

Russian servicemen stand behind a reconnaissance and targeting owl-like drone made by Russian military Innovative Technopolis ERA – its appearance is designed to dupe foes into thinking it is a bird while it uses lasers to target enemies in the field

A T-15 Armata infantry fighting vehicle on display at the Army 2019 International Military Technical Forum at Patriot Park on the outskirts of Moscow on Tuesday - the T-15 Armata is armed with remote control turrets and banks of anti-tank missiles are featured on both flanks

A T-15 Armata infantry fighting vehicle on display at the Army 2019 International Military Technical Forum at Patriot Park on the outskirts of Moscow on Tuesday – the T-15 Armata is armed with remote control turrets and banks of anti-tank missiles are featured on both flanks

Foreign military visitors attend the Army 2019 International Military Technical Forum in Patriot Park in Alabino on the outskirts of Moscow on Tuesday - on the first day of the exhibition the expo's website says it will be operating with a restricted attendance in place and a badge is required for admission

Foreign military visitors attend the Army 2019 International Military Technical Forum in Patriot Park in Alabino on the outskirts of Moscow on Tuesday – on the first day of the exhibition the expo’s website says it will be operating with a restricted attendance in place and a badge is required for admission

An RT-2PM Topol intercontinental ballistic missile launcher on display at the Army 2019 International Military Technical Forum at Patriot Park - mounted on a heavy truck, the mobile system is capable of delivering mass nuclear destruction

An RT-2PM Topol intercontinental ballistic missile launcher on display at the Army 2019 International Military Technical Forum at Patriot Park – mounted on a heavy truck, the mobile system is capable of delivering mass nuclear destruction

Su-25 jet fighters release smoke in the colours of the Russian state flag during the opening ceremony on Tuesday - the conference website says 'the legendary Russian aerobatic teams: The Swifts, The Russian Knights and The Golden Eagles' will be on display during the week

Su-25 jet fighters release smoke in the colours of the Russian state flag during the opening ceremony on Tuesday – the conference website says ‘the legendary Russian aerobatic teams: The Swifts, The Russian Knights and The Golden Eagles’ will be on display during the week

The RDS-1, the first Soviet-made nuclear bomb, on display - the United States nicknamed it the Joe-1, a reference to the communist tyrant Joseph Stalin. It was first tested in 1949 in the Kazakh region during Soviet times following a top secret development project

The RDS-1, the first Soviet-made nuclear bomb, on display – the United States nicknamed it the Joe-1, a reference to the communist tyrant Joseph Stalin. It was first tested in 1949 in the Kazakh region during Soviet times following a top secret development project

A ZALA Lancet attack drone developed by Kalashnikov Concern on display, as well as providing live video reconnaissance the drone is designed for precision strikes with a maximum range of 25 miles - the exhibition boasts a 500,000 metre squared outdoor area and its website says there will be more than 1,250 Russian and foreign exhibitors

A ZALA Lancet attack drone developed by Kalashnikov Concern on display, as well as providing live video reconnaissance the drone is designed for precision strikes with a maximum range of 25 miles – the exhibition boasts a 500,000 metre squared outdoor area and its website says there will be more than 1,250 Russian and foreign exhibitors

A ZALA-KYB attack drone developed by Kalashnikov Concern on display, it can fly at speeds of 80mph and delivers a payload of up to 7lbs worth of explosives

A ZALA-KYB attack drone developed by Kalashnikov Concern on display, it can fly at speeds of 80mph and delivers a payload of up to 7lbs worth of explosives

The Kalashnikov Group's display of various assault and tactical rifles at the centre near Moscow - the company supplies the vast majority of all Russian firearms and boasts the Kalashnikov assault rifles, RPK light machine guns and the Dragunov sniper rifle

The Kalashnikov Group’s display of various assault and tactical rifles at the centre near Moscow – the company supplies the vast majority of all Russian firearms and boasts the Kalashnikov assault rifles, RPK light machine guns and the Dragunov sniper rifle

A man inspects a high-calibre sniper rifle at the stand of the Kalashnikov Group during the International military-technical forum

A man inspects a high-calibre sniper rifle at the stand of the Kalashnikov Group during the International military-technical forum

An attendee inspects an assault rifle at the stand of Kalashnikov Group - the Kalashnikov rifle is famed for its reliability in challenging weather and relatively cheap production costs compared to the Western market

An attendee inspects an assault rifle at the stand of Kalashnikov Group – the Kalashnikov rifle is famed for its reliability in challenging weather and relatively cheap production costs compared to the Western market

A Russian officer stands before a row of tanks at the military display which will run through to the end of the month in Moscow

A Russian officer stands before a row of tanks at the military display which will run through to the end of the month in Moscow

Foreign military visitors inspect tanks on display - as well as members of the public of all ages, there are days on which only a professional audience are invited, including foreign delegates

Foreign military visitors inspect tanks on display – as well as members of the public of all ages, there are days on which only a professional audience are invited, including foreign delegates

Russian servicemen stand before tank displays on the first day of the annual military show to which foreign delegates are invited by the state - not only is it used to advertise Russia's arms for sale, it is also a propaganda tool to display cutting-edge military technology to the general populace

Russian servicemen stand before tank displays on the first day of the annual military show to which foreign delegates are invited by the state – not only is it used to advertise Russia’s arms for sale, it is also a propaganda tool to display cutting-edge military technology to the general populace

A Briz unmanned helicopter developed by Radar MMS on display - Russian media has previously reported on the unmanned helicopters being designed for deployment in the inhospitable Arctic for ice surveillance with an extensive flight range provided by an expansive fuel carrying capacity

A Briz unmanned helicopter developed by Radar MMS on display – Russian media has previously reported on the unmanned helicopters being designed for deployment in the inhospitable Arctic for ice surveillance with an extensive flight range provided by an expansive fuel carrying capacity

A visitor stands next to the S-350 Vityaz SAM anti-aircraft missile system - it was first deployed in the Hama province of Syria, according to the FARS news agency, to help guard President Bashar al-Assad's airspace. The Russian defence minister said there will be 'an exhibition devoted to the Russian force grouping in the Syrian Arab Republic'

A visitor stands next to the S-350 Vityaz SAM anti-aircraft missile system – it was first deployed in the Hama province of Syria, according to the FARS news agency, to help guard President Bashar al-Assad’s airspace. The Russian defence minister said there will be ‘an exhibition devoted to the Russian force grouping in the Syrian Arab Republic’

A model of the Fregat unmanned aerial vehicle requiring no airfield and developed by Kronshtadt Group on a display stand at the event - the medium class vertical takeoff drone is billed for its high-speed for recon and delivering cargo

A model of the Fregat unmanned aerial vehicle requiring no airfield and developed by Kronshtadt Group on a display stand at the event – the medium class vertical takeoff drone is billed for its high-speed for recon and delivering cargo

A Russian serviceman talks with a visitor in front of Self Propelled Anti Aircraft Gun System Derivatsiya PVO - the vehicle is designed for targeting low-flying aircraft including helicopters and drones

A Russian serviceman talks with a visitor in front of Self Propelled Anti Aircraft Gun System Derivatsiya PVO – the vehicle is designed for targeting low-flying aircraft including helicopters and drones

A visitor inspects the front of Pantsir-SM surface to air missile and anti aircraft artillery system - termed the SA-22 Greyhound by NATO, it is the latest in Russia's vast arsenal designed to deal with airborne targets

A visitor inspects the front of Pantsir-SM surface to air missile and anti aircraft artillery system – termed the SA-22 Greyhound by NATO, it is the latest in Russia’s vast arsenal designed to deal with airborne targets

A Malian serviceman wearing a VIP badge attends the exhibition in Moscow on Tuesday - there have been diplomatic relations with Malia since Soviet times when the African nation sought to forge ties with a European ally after its neighbour Senegal received French backing in the 1960s

A Malian serviceman wearing a VIP badge attends the exhibition in Moscow on Tuesday – there have been diplomatic relations with Malia since Soviet times when the African nation sought to forge ties with a European ally after its neighbour Senegal received French backing in the 1960s

An Ilyushin Il-76 multi-purpose strategic airlifter releases water over Alabino firing range - the Il-76 is a heavy freighter capable of landing on improvised runways in remote areas. Aerial, naval and ground vehicle displays will be put on throughout the exhibition.

An Ilyushin Il-76 multi-purpose strategic airlifter releases water over Alabino firing range – the Il-76 is a heavy freighter capable of landing on improvised runways in remote areas. Aerial, naval and ground vehicle displays will be put on throughout the exhibition.

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