The International Aviation and Space Salon (MAKS)

What The International Aviation and Space Salon (MAKS) does

Aviasalon JSC (АО «Авиасалон») is the designated organizer of the International Aviation and Space Salon (MAKS), Russia's flagship biennial aerospace exhibition held at the Gromov Flight Research Institute's airfield in Zhukovsky, Moscow Region. The company was established on February 14, 1992 by Yuri Nagaev (Lenin Prize laureate) to organize Russia's international aviation exhibitions, and has operated continuously since then through successive corporate restructurings (TOO → ZAO → OAO → AO, completed May 26, 2020). MAKS itself has been held biennially in odd years since 1993, drawing 570,000+ visitors and 140,000+ specialists per event, featuring 120+ aircraft demonstrations and 150+ business program events, and ranking among the world's top 10 aviation forums alongside Le Bourget, Farnborough, Dubai Airshow, and Singapore Airshow. Aviasalon JSC is wholly integrated into State Corporation Rostec and co-organized with the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation.

The company's core products span a flagship biennial exhibition (MAKS), an annual online digital project (eMAKS, launched July 2024, with 110+ enterprises participating in 2025), the biennial Technologies in Mechanical Engineering (ТВМ) forum launched in 2010, historical Oboronexpo defense exhibitions, the MAKS Cup aerobatics competition, and a branded online souvenir store (aviagifts.com). The technical platform is a relatively standard web stack — aviasalon.com hosted via Russcom Solutions, with Selectel data center infrastructure, Yandex Metrica and Mail.ru Rating for analytics, and a Telegram channel ('Авиасалон МАКС') as community engagement. There is no proprietary technology, AI/ML capability, or public API.

Revenue is generated through exhibitor participation fees, public visitor ticket sales, sponsorship arrangements, and online project eMAKS participation, though none of these are publicly priced. The entity operates with a remarkably lean structure of approximately 5 listed employees, indicating that it functions as a state-mandated coordinating project office within the broader Rostec ecosystem rather than as a stand-alone commercial enterprise. Customer segments include large state-owned aerospace OEMs (United Aircraft Corporation, Russian Helicopters, United Engine Corporation, KRET, Technodinamika), industry specialists (140,000+ per event), and the general public attending aerobatic displays.

Name

The International Aviation and Space Salon (MAKS)

Legal name

Акционерное общество «Авиасалон»

Website

https://aviasalon.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1992

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Aviasalon JSC (АО «Авиасалон») organizes the International Aviation and Space Salon (MAKS), Russia's flagship biennial aerospace exhibition in Zhukovsky, serving state-owned aerospace manufacturers, industry specialists, and the general public under the sponsorship of Rostec and the Russian Ministry of Industry and Trade.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Trade Show and Exhibition Services

akta.pro primary industry

Corporate Event Production & AV Services (HSACADAB)

Keywords

• International aviation exhibition
• Aerospace trade show
• Defense industry expo
• Air show event
• Aviation trade fair

Headquarters

HQ city

Zhukovsky

HQ country

Russia

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Exhibition and event services: MAKS generates revenue through exhibitor participation fees, ticket sales to public visitors, sponsorship arrangements, and online project eMAKS participation.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

The International Aviation and Space Salon (MAKS) is a biennial international aerospace and aviation exhibition held at Zhukovsky airport in Moscow Region, Russia. Organized by Aviasalon JSC under the auspices of the Russian Ministry of Industry and Trade and Rostec State Corporation, it brings together global aerospace manufacturers, defense contractors, and aviation industry professionals to showcase aircraft, helicopters, unmanned systems, and space technology. The salon also operates the eMAKS digital platform for year-round industry engagement.

Product overview

The International Aviation and Space Salon (MAKS) is organized by Aviasalon JSC and consists primarily of large-scale aerospace exhibitions and online digital programs. The core product is the biennial International Aviation and Space Salon MAKS, held in odd years in Zhukovsky, which is Russia's premier aviation and aerospace event featuring aircraft displays, flight demonstrations, and a business program. Supporting the physical event is the eMAKS annual online project, which includes an electronic catalog of participating organizations (categorized by aerospace sector), a demonstration program of aviation video content, a museum and historical section, an aviation blogosphere section, and an aerial acrobatics reference. Additional products include the MAKS Cup aerobatics competition, the biennial 'Technologies in Mechanical Engineering' (ТВМ) forum, the 'Oboronexpo' defense exhibition, and an online souvenir store. The portfolio is organized as a flagship biennial event supplemented by year-round online content and satellite industry events.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• MAKS International Aviation and Space Salon The flagship biennial international aerospace exhibition held at Zhukovsky airfield, serving aerospace manufacturers, defense contractors, government delegations, and aviation industry professionals. Features aircraft displays, helicopter showcases, unmanned aerial systems demonstrations, space technology exhibits, and B2B contract negotiations.
• eMAKS Digital Platform An online digital platform providing continuous aerospace industry content, exhibitor showcases, and B2B networking opportunities between MAKS biennial cycles.
• Helirussia / TVM Helicopter Industry Forum Specialized international forum for the helicopter industry covering rotorcraft manufacturing, operations, and applications.
• Hydroaviasalon International Seaplane Exhibition International exhibition focused on seaplanes, amphibious aircraft, and water-based aviation technology.
• MAKS Cup Drone Racing Competition Drone racing competition organized as part of MAKS, targeting unmanned aerial system enthusiasts and industry stakeholders.
• ExpoheliRussia Helicopter Industry Exhibition Specialized helicopter industry exhibition serving rotorcraft manufacturers and operators.

Quantifiable outcome

• 570,000+ visitors including 140,000+ specialists per event
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• FS VTS Russia (ФСВТС России)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Partner of eMAKS-2025 online project, supporting the exhibition of achievements in industrial and technological sovereignty of civil aircraft manufacturing.
• Rosaviatsiya (Росавиация)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Partner of eMAKS-2025 online project supporting the demonstration of Russian aerospace industry achievements.
• Minobrnauki Russia (Минобрнауки России)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Partner of eMAKS-2025 supporting the representation of educational and scientific organizations in the aerospace sector.
• Novikombank (Новикомбанк)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Strategic financial partner and partner of eMAKS-2025 online project, supporting the exhibition of Russian aerospace industry achievements.
• AVIA.RUminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Russian aviation information and analytical internet portal, partner of eMAKS-2025 online project.
• Sputnik International Information AgencyminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025International information agency, partner of eMAKS-2025 supporting media coverage of the aerospace exhibition.
• Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Russian FederationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1993Official organizer of MAKS alongside Rostec, providing government-level support and policy alignment for the international aviation and space salon.
• State Corporation Rostec (Ростех)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1993Official organizer of MAKS, with Rostec being the largest machine-building company in Russia, uniting over 800 scientific and production organizations across 60 regions of the country. MAKS serves as a key platform for displaying Rostec's aerospace products.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Dubai Airshow: Biennial aerospace exhibition held in the UAE, organized by Tarsus. A direct peer to MAKS as one of the top-tier global airshows with broad civil and defense participation and strong business programming.
• Farnborough International Airshow: Biennial aerospace exhibition held in the UK, directly comparable to MAKS as one of the world's top airshows. Both are alternating biennial events (MAKS in odd years, Farnborough in even years) targeting global aerospace OEMs and suppliers with a mix of trade and public days.
• Paris Air Show (Le Bourget): Organized by SIAE (a GIFAS subsidiary), the Paris Air Show at Le Bourget is the world's largest aerospace exhibition and the most direct peer to MAKS in format, scale, and audience. Both rank in the top 10 global aviation forums.
• Airshow China (Zhuhai Airshow): Biennial aerospace exhibition held in Zhuhai, China. A direct peer to MAKS as a sovereign/state-backed airshow explicitly cited alongside it in the 'top 10 global aviation forums' comparison, with similar mix of trade and public days.
• ILA Berlin Air Show: Berlin-based aerospace exhibition organized by Messe Berlin in cooperation with BDLI. A direct peer to MAKS as one of the top 10 global aviation forums serving European aerospace OEMs and defense contractors.
• Singapore Airshow: Biennial aerospace exhibition held in Singapore, organized by Experia Events. Comparable to MAKS as an Asia-Pacific counterpart ranked among the top 10 global aviation forums, serving similar exhibitor and trade-delegate audiences.
• Aero India: Biennial aerospace and defense exhibition held in Bengaluru and organized by the Indian Ministry of Defence. Comparable to MAKS as a state-backed airshow serving a major emerging aerospace market with combined civil and military focus.

Emerging players

• Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT): Annual military airshow held at RAF Fairford in the UK. Comparable to the public-facing aviation spectacle component of MAKS (aerobatic teams, 120+ aircraft demonstrations) though it lacks MAKS's substantial trade/business programming.
• TEKNOFEST: Turkish state-backed aerospace and technology festival organized by the Turkish Technology Team Foundation. An emerging state-supported event with comparable format combining industry exhibition and public engagement, but focused on a broader technology mandate than MAKS.

Broad incumbents

• Informa Markets (Farnborough International owner): Global events and exhibitions group that owns Farnborough International and runs numerous other trade shows. Comparable to Aviasalon JSC as a parent-level professional events operator, though vastly larger in scale and portfolio breadth.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/maks-airshow

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The International Aviation and Space Salon (MAKS)