Russian Sukhoi and MiG fighters faced U.S. Air Force combat planes at the Moscow International Air show that opened Tuesday at a once secret military airfield just outside Moscow.

Over 600 companies from 40 nations are taking part in the six-day show, with about 200 aircraft on display at Zhukovsky airfield, where the Soviet Union once tested its military aircraft. More than 3,000 police and other security forces were deployed to provide security along with bomb-sniffing dogs and armored vehicles.

For the second time, the U.S. Air Force brought combat jets to the show that is held every two years. American F-15 and F-16 fighter jets and tanker aircraft have already arrived at the airfield, and the U.S. Air Force was also to fly two B-1B bombers to Zhukovsky, the show organizers said.

Russian officials first staged the show in 1992 to show off their aviation prowess and give foreign customers a closer look at Russian-made aircraft. The 1991 Soviet collapse brought generous state orders to a near halt, forcing the nation's aircraft industries to reach for foreign orders to survive.

Sukhoi has been by far the most successful in marketing its world-renowned fighters, selling billions of dollars worth of Su-27 and Su-30 fighters and, eventually, licenses for their production to China and India. MiG, which had lagged behind, has recently won back some turf by securing a major contract with India to supply it with carrier-borne MiG-29 fighters.

A mock up of the Klipper Reusable Aircraft will also be on display!

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