In a year filled with the anticipated return of numerous conventions and airshows, Russia’s flagship biennial airshow – the 16th International Air and Space Salon (MAKS) 2023, was initially planned to be held for two days from July 23rd this year. However, the event’s organizers have confirmed that it will be canceled this year.
Russia’s MAKS airshow has been a biennial event since 1993, becoming the venue for the world premiers of aircraft, engines, helicopters, and systems developed in Russia, including various launch vehicles and spacecraft of different classes and purpose. Large-scale demonstrations of civil aviation products are also held at the airshow.
While attracting thousands of global visitors over the decades, President Vladimir Putin and several other high-ranking government officials also traditionally attend the airshow. The MAKS airshow has been the hallmark of Russia’s civil and military aerospace industry, and an essential key to securing export customers.
It was anticipated that the event would make a comeback this year in the town of Zhukovsky from July 23rd to July 25th, but all bets are now off as the show will not take place.
The sudden cancelation just weeks before the event’s start date was due to a couple of reasons, one being that Russia’s aerospace industry could not risk any additional reputational damage. Even before Russia invaded Ukraine, the country’s aerospace industry was already suffering from international sanctions due to the invasion of Crimea.
However, several international companies still participated in the MAKS Airshow 2021, where Sukhoi presented the Su-75 Checkmate fighter for the first time. But after last year’s unfortunate events, the country’s aerospace industry has sunk further, struggling under the weight of international sanctions. Understandably, some companies had already canceled their preparations for the event.
Besides the lack of participants and visitors this year, there’s also a problem: the commander of Russia’s aerospace forces, General Sergei Surovikin, is currently missing from the public eye.
There were also concerns that the MAKS Airshow might not have had a safe flight program this year. For the event organizers, ensuring adequate and proper security measures for such a high-profile event could prove more challenging than in previous years – especially with the recent drone attacks in Moscow.
With drone strikes increasing, Russia’s Ministry of Defense also announced a heightened security risk in the country. For the airshow organizers, the security concerns would mean more than just hiring a few more guards for the event.
There would have been the likelihood of additional air and ground security support, which would have required changes to the airshow flight program. As the date of the event was so close, these last-minute changes would have been nearly impossible to pull off successfully as training would have been disrupted, among changes to other resources.
Given the many issues facing the 16th edition of the MAKS airshow, canceling the event this year makes sense. The event’s organizers have officially ‘postponed’ the show to next year or beyond, with a decision on a new date set to be revealed later this month. The organizers have also noted that part of this year’s program could be presented in a dome structure in Moscow either this coming autumn or winter.
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