Sassi Security Review
XI MOSCOW CONFERENCE on International Security in 2023 was a monumental event within the defense and military technology landscape. Hosted as part of the “ARMY-2023” International Military-Technical Forum in the Russian Federation, this conference represented a remarkable display of modern military weaponry and innovations devel-oped and employed by the Russian armed forces and their global allies. “ARMY-2023” stands as one of the world’s most significant military exhibitions and conferences, spanning a week-long event from August 14th to 20th. It took place primarily at the “Patriot Convention and Exhibition Center,” the principal venue of the Russian Ministry of Defense, with subsidiary exhibitions at various locations, including the Central Military-Patriotic Park of Culture and Recreation of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, the Alabino training ground, and the Kubinka airfield.
This colossal event drew an impressive atten-dance of nearly one million and ninety-three thou-sand individuals from across the globe. It show-cased cutting-edge weapons and military technolo-gies presented by Russia’s leading defense industry giants and their international partners. The “Army 2023” Forum played a pivotal role in fostering mili-tary-technical cooperation between established technological leaders, defense industry titans, and emerging players in the field of military technology and weaponry.
This multifaceted event seamlessly combined static military displays, dynamic scientific pro-grams, and business activities, offering a comprehensive overview of modern military capabilities. Furthermore, it provided a unique opportunity to delve into Russia’s diverse cultural heritage, spanning thousands of years.
Despite facing economic sanctions from the EU and the US, Russia emerged as a global industry leader in the defense sector, underlining its exten-sive global reach. This highlighted that the Russian Federation’s economy, particularly in the realm of military development and outreach, remained robust and resilient. The forum conveyed a clear message: Russian military weaponry not only exemplified modernity but was battle-tested and exceptionally durable, making it an attractive choice for international partners during times of national crises or war. The underlying principle was to ensure a competitive military advantage while guaranteeing a steady supply of weaponry when needed most.
The success of the “ARMY 2023” Forum was a silent but firm affirmation of defiance against the discriminatory global military-economic order led by Western military industrial complexes. With more than 83 participating states, double the number present at the Lancaster House meeting earlier in the year, it was evident that Russia’s stature and influ-ence in the defense industry extended far beyond the constraints imposed by Western nations.
The forum featured over 80 global defense companies and hosted a series of high-level bilateral meetings involving defense officials and military leaders. National pavilions from countries such as Belarus, the People’s Republic of China, India, Vietnam, and Pakistan, alongside Russia’s own ex-hibitions, showcased a staggering 28,000 prototypes and samples of military and dual-use products, in-cluding full-scale models, mock-ups, and informa-tive materials.
The “ARMY 2023” defense exhibition offered both indoor and outdoor displays, with static exhib-its in pavilions and larger battlefield weaponry and systems showcased in outdoor areas.
