The International Aviation and Space Show (MAKS), which takes place regularly from 1993 and was supposed to occur for the 16th time this year, is to be postponed “indefinitely” for security reasons, Russian newspaper Kommersant reports, citing sources.
The event was supposed to take place on 25-30 July 2023. The current plans are for MAKS to be postponed to 2024 or later, according to Kommersant’s sources.
Kommersant adds that the postponement has to do with the organisers not being able to ensure proper security measures: the event is attended by tens of thousands of people daily, the location is open, and there are risks of the flight programme being interfered with.
“They could, probably, strengthen the security measures, but the use of electronic warfare against the potential drone threats would create obstacles for the flight programme, and it would probably make zero sense [to hold the event],” a source told Kommersant.
According to Russian newspaper Vedomosti, the event was postponed due to the sanctions leading to the “participation of foreign companies in the air show being limited”. Furthermore, the organisers “have questions in regards to ensuring safety”, the newspaper notes.
Recently, fallen drones were found in the Moscow suburbs on several occasions. On 3 May, Moscow’s Kremlin was attacked by drones. Afterwards, a ban on using UAVs was introduced in the Russian capital.
MAKS is held every two years at Zhukovsky International Airport, in the Moscow suburbs. Exhibitions of Russian and foreign aircraft, as well as lectures and symposiums are held within the framework of the event. The air show has never been cancelled in the 30 years of it being held. Currently, there’s no information about the postponement on the MAKS website.
