Rosoboronexport is developing not only repair centers for Russian military equipment in Africa, but also localization projects for production. Contracts worth 1.7 billion dollars have already been signed for technological cooperation with a number of African countries, and the region's share in the company's order portfolio has reached about 30%.

The new cooperation model goes far beyond the supply of finished weapons. Infrastructure is being created in African countries for the maintenance and repair of Russian aircraft, armored vehicles, ships, and air defense systems, while the localization of production of certain types of weapons is also being worked out. According to Rosoboronexport CEO Alexander Mikheev, this includes the production of Russian small arms and ammunition.

A separate area is related to air defense. Rosoboronexport is working with African partners on projects for the localization of Russian air defense systems, as well as the creation of facilities for the maintenance of automotive equipment, ships, and submarines. This means a gradual transition from the scheme of "supplying equipment and servicing it from outside" to deeper technological cooperation directly on the customers' territory.

The scale of this direction is also confirmed by the company's overall performance. In the first half of 2026, Rosoboronexport signed export contracts worth more than 13 billion dollars, with deliveries to more than 20 foreign customers. About 70% of the products supplied during this period were weapons and military equipment for the Air Force and Air Defense.

Earlier it was reported that one of the Russian proposals for the African market is the modernized Yak-130M combat trainer aircraft. Rosoboronexport believes that its capabilities and armament allow the aircraft to be used as a light combat aircraft for most countries in Sub-Saharan Africa.